Skidder theft investigated

PRIEST RIVER — Bonner County sheriff’s deputies are investigating the theft of a John Deere logging skidder that was parked in the 2700 block of Eastside Road.

The 2007 model 648 GIII model skidder was taken Wednesday or Thursday. The suspect(s) started other logging equipment at the scene and drove some of it around, according to sheriff’s officials. The skidder, which has a green body mounted atop a black chassis and is fitted with a grappler, may have been loaded onto a lowboy trailer for transport.

A skidder of comparable vintage sells for more than $60,000, according to for-sale listings on forestrytrader.com.

The skidder’s Vehicle Identification Number is DW648GX611038 and has been entered into the FBI’s National Crime Information Center database as a stolen vehicle.

Those with information about the location of the stolen skidder or the persons responsible for its theft are asked to call Sgt. Tim Reynolds or Det. Matt Wallace at 208-263-8417 or via Bonner Dispatch 208-255-5525. The case number is 18-015265.