Surveillance video captured the moment a crew of would-be crooks used a backhoe to break into a convenience store in West Oakland, California. The backhoe crashed through the bullet-proof glass, smashing an ATM machine, while a terrified clerk ran for his life. The bungling thieves eventually fled when they heard sirens approaching, leaving behind significant damage. The store owner expressed shock and frustration, calling it an "American nightmare." Police are still searching for the suspects.
A backhoe was used to dig in the backyard of Rex Heuermann's Massapequa Park home as authorities plan to conclude their investigation by the end of the week. Heuermann has been charged with first- and second-degree murder in connection to three Gilgo victims and is a prime suspect in a fourth death. Investigators are also looking into possible connections between Heuermann and unsolved cases in other states. The remains of 11 people, mostly young women who were sex workers, were found near Gilgo Beach in 2010 and 2011.
A driver was killed in Oakland County, Michigan, after speeding into a construction zone, attempting to pass another car by using closed lanes, and colliding with a backhoe. The driver lost control, crashed into the car in the left lane, and ultimately struck a tree in the right ditch. The driver was not wearing a seatbelt and died in the crash. A dog in the car was also injured. The worker operating the backhoe and the driver of the other car were unharmed. The investigation is ongoing, and it is unclear if drugs or alcohol played a role in the accident.
A man from Carbondale, Illinois, has been charged with theft after allegedly stealing a backhoe and driving it about 10 miles to catch a flight at Veterans Airport of Southern Illinois. Security camera footage captured the man arriving at the airport on the backhoe and leaving it in the parking lot before walking across the street to the airport lobby carrying a guitar case. The owner of the backhoe later identified the equipment as belonging to his company and said it had been parked at a job site.
