Nearly $200,000 worth of equipment stolen, sold to scrap yard

A Baton Rouge man was arrested for allegedly stealing approximately $191,840 worth of equipment from a Gonzales business on Wednesday, June 1, 2022.

Ascension Parish Deputies said Kieu T. Tran, 32, is accused of stealing the equipment from ESP Valves Inc. on Don Lou Rd. in Gonzales.

Tran is charged with two-counts of theft over $25k and two-counts of unauthorized entry of a place of business. More charges may be pending.

Detectives with APSO responded to a burglary at ESP Valves Inc. and when the detectives arrived, the owner said a large amount of equipment was stolen from the outside storage bins. 

The detectives obtained surveillance video, which showed a man enter the property after breaking through a fence. Detectives also saw a vehicle that belonged to the man.

Officials said Tran confessed to the crime telling them that the equipment had been sold to a scrap yard in Baton Rouge, which detectives confirmed. 

The victim was notified and visited the scrap yard where he recovered the stolen equipment.