Thousand Oaks resident Raymond Daniels, 39, was arrested for stealing a backhoe from a Simi Valley construction site near Tapo Street and Presidio Drive during the early morning hours of Mon., March 13.

Unknown to the suspect, the Caterpillar backhoe, valued at $78,000 and owned by Gothic Landscaping, was equipped with a LoJack tracking system. When the theft was discovered, the LoJack system was activated.

At 4 a.m., the backhoe was found parked in a dirt field off Katherine Road. The Gothic Landscaping stickers on the backhoe had been removed. A police surveillance of the area was established.

At 5:18 a.m. Daniels arrived in the area. When he saw a uniformed police officer a block away speaking to the owner of the backhoe, Daniels ran but was detained a few blocks away.

Evidence was obtained that linked Daniels to the backhoe theft and he was arrested for grand theft auto.

The backhoe was returned to Gothic Landscaping.