Midtown paving project delayed by equipment theft

TUCSON, AZ (Tucson News Now) - A paving project along North Alvernon Way between East Speedway Boulevard and East Fort Lowell Road has been delayed after someone stole $150,000 worth of equipment.

Sunland Asphalt officials confirmed Monday, March 14 that electronic equipment used on paving machines was taken from their yard over the weekend.

They were supposed to start paving along Alvernon Way on Monday and finish Tuesday, but Michael Graham with the city of Tucson said it will likely be delayed until Friday.

Late Monday afternoon, an employee with Thermo King West, Inc. spotted a trailer that had been stolen on their property.

It was found less then 10 minutes from the yard from which it was stolen.

Tucson News Now was the only station with a Sunland employee as he drove to the trailer.

Some of the stolen equipment was still inside the trailer, according to some Sunland Asphalt employees.

"It carries everything we need. All the electronics that we need to pave a smooth road. It has all our skis, non contact skis. All the tools. Pretty much everything we need to get job done," said Mike Thompson, with Sunland Asphalt.