AirTag Leads Staties to Stolen $30K+ Stump Grinder, Nets Narcotics, Two in Custody [HN Video]
CLICK 12/14/25 UPDATE: Charges in Stump Grinder Heist
HYANNIS, MASSACHUSETTS — (HN video notes) – A hidden Apple AirTag on a valuable stump grinder proved pivotal in a swift recovery operation by Massachusetts State Police, leading to the seizure of suspected narcotics and the custody of two men in a Hyannis parking lot.
The incident unfolded shortly before 9:00 p.m. last evening – 12/3/25 – when the equipment’s owner, alerted by the AirTag, tracked the stolen stump grinder — a heavy duty piece of machinery valued at least $30,000, often much higher — as it was towed toward Barnstable Municipal Airport. The device pinpointed the item in the AutoZone parking lot on Iyannough Road, where troopers converged on a pickup truck towing the machinery.
Hyannis News footage and cellphone video captured the confrontation, showing a trooper questioning one occupant about the theft. The suspect denied involvement, but the owner interjected, revealing he had surveillance video documenting the crime. A search of the truck uncovered apparent narcotics, including suspected fentanyl and crack cocaine.
Both men were detained and transported to the State Police barracks in South Yarmouth. Charges remain unclear at this time. One suspect, wearing a bright yellow “hi-vis” Richard’s Tree Service hoodie, matches the description of Steven Richard, 53, of Plymouth. Richard was previously arrested during a Hyannis traffic stop on November 17, 2025, while driving a 26,000-pound commercial tree service truck on a suspended license; his passenger fled on foot before capture, and Richard faced charges for possession of crack cocaine.
The recovery highlights the growing role of tracking devices in thwarting equipment thefts in the tree service industry. The following video contains state police radio transmissions, exclusive Hyannis News footage, and a brief cellphone video provided by the stump grinder’s owner. [DEVELOPING]
HN Reminder: The initial details contained in the above report are based on police radio transmissions, and information from sources on scene. The defendants are presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
[Hyannis News Video – Press Play]
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