INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — An Indian River County man was arrested Tuesday after discovering a stolen tractor on the property where he resides, according to authorities.
Joseph Adams, 53, of the 8700 block of 8th Street in Vero Beach, is now in custody for being in possession of the stolen equipment.
The tractor was reported stolen from an agricultural property in west Indian River County on June 28, and was recovered in the 8700 block of 8th Street, at the home where Adams resides with his mother.
Adams’ mother told authorities her son brought the tractor home “several days ago,” according to the report.
Adams claimed he purchased the tractor for $1,700 cash from a man who delivered it to Adams at a bar in Sebastian. He was unable to provide any verifiable contact information for the alleged seller. Police noted the tractor is valued around $4,000.
According to the arrest affidavit, the tractor was parked on the owner’s property “several hundred yards away from the main road” and out of view, prior to it being stolen.
Adams told police he frequently hog hunts on the property adjacent to the victim’s property and knows the combination to the shared lock that secures the gates to both, the report states.
Adams faces one felony charge of possession of stolen property and is being held in the Indian River County Jail lieu of $5,000 bond.
