EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — A 20-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the theft of welding equipment valued at more than $10,000, the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office said.
Dean Winslow Crawford, 20, was arrested Monday, June 30 and charged with felony theft of property. He was booked into the El Paso County Detention Facility with a bond of $7,500.
On Friday, June 27, detectives with the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office East Montana Patrol Station received information about welding equipment that had been reported stolen in October 2024.
In response, detectives launched a surveillance operation to identify potential suspects and recover the stolen property.
“Investigators quickly developed strong leads, including the identity of a suspect and possible locations where the equipment might be found,” the Sheriff’s Office said in its news release.
On June 30, detectives carried out a follow-up operation near Montana Avenue and Mescalero Drive, in which they located the suspect and the stolen equpment.
Crawford was arrested without incident. The welding equipment was recovered at the scene and returned to its owner, the Sheriff’s Office said.
“The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office remains dedicated to protecting the community and ensuring that justice is served. We are committed to holding individuals accountable for theft and other criminal activity,” the Sheriff’s Office said in its release.
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