Big equipment costs big bucks, and now Ronnie Simmons Farm in Arkansas is in the hole $200,000 after two people are accused of stealing two of the farm’s tractors and damaged them while joyriding.
Local TV station KAIT8 reported that Derrick Whittaker, 21, and a 13-year-old took a John Deere tractor — and ultimately got it stuck in the mud. Police say the pair then stole a Case tractor and ran over about two dozen mailboxes before crashing the machine into a creek. Both have been arrested, and charges have been filed.
According to Arkansas online, Prairie County Sheriff Rick Hickman said that Whittaker and the boy told authorities that they had no real reason for trashing the tractors and had no grudge against the vehicles’ owners.
The tractor thefts happened May 30. The two suspects are also being accused of coming to the farm a few days before the tractor thefts and shooting firearms for fun without permission.
The farm owners told KAIT8 that they’ll now have to put in an extra 20 work hours a week to make up for the loss.
