Loader Larceny: GPS Trail Leads Deputies To Stolen Bobcat And Mechanicsville Man’s Arrest

MECHANICSVILLE, Md. — On Oct. 9, 2025, Kraig Alan Eriksen, 41, of Mechanicsville, pled guilty to one count of theft: $25,000 to under $100,000. Eriksen was formally sentenced on Nov. 20, 2025, in connection with the theft of a Bobcat loader reported in September.

According to police documents, the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office responded on Sept. 9, 2025, to a residence in Mechanicsville for a report of a stolen construction vehicle. The victim reported that a Bobcat loader valued at approximately $25,000 had been taken overnight. The equipment was equipped with GPS tracking, which allowed deputies to identify its recent locations.

According to court records, deputies used the GPS data to locate the Bobcat at a property where they made contact with Eriksen. Law enforcement documents indicate that Eriksen told deputies he had purchased the loader the night before from an individual he initially met at a gas station in Washington, D.C. He then said that they met at a gas station in Bowie near the Bowie Baysox Stadium.

He reportedly said he could recall only the seller’s first name and that he paid $1,200 and traded an e-bike for the equipment. He also said that the communication regarding the sale occurred through Facebook using a family member’s phone. Deputies spoke with the family member, who denied any knowledge of the loader or the alleged transaction details other than the knowledge that he was buying one.

Deputies reported that Eriksen was unable to produce any documentation of the purchase, including a title, money transfer, or receipt.

Deputies found a white and orange Bobcat S630, confirmed by its VIN, that matched the report of the stolen equipment. The loader had visible damage and some parts were missing. A records check showed it had been reported stolen to Bowie Police. Eriksen told officers that the blue flatbed trailer on scene had been used to transport the Bobcat. Deputies also noted the trailer had no tag, a cut strap nearby, and broken glass and wiring scattered around the loader. The Bobcat battery had been disconnected and had to be reconnected before returning the equipment to its owner.

Eriksen was taken into custody without incident.

Under Maryland law, a conviction for theft: $25,000 to under $100,000 carries a maximum sentence of 10 years of incarceration.

Eriksen was sentenced to 18 months of incarceration, suspended to 180 days and two years of probation during his Nov. 20, 2025, sentencing hearing.

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