‘Heartless’ thief thwarts Hurricane Helene relief after stealing $325k debris removal truck

The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office is looking for the soulless criminal who swiped a $325,000 debris removal truck from a Kansas City crew in Florida providing essential relief following Hurricane Helene's onslaught .

According to investigators, the truck, which is valued at approximately $325,000, was stolen from an Odessa storage facility. "I really didn't think it was possible because we've never had that problem before. It's like a city block going down the road. You know, they're a pretty good size," the truck's owner and President of National Debris Removal Joe Messina said.

Messina arrived from Kansas City last week with his business, National Debris Removal, to begin work for the upcoming months.

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With the owner's consent, they parked the debris removal truck in a lot on Gunn Highway in Odessa on Friday night, but when they returned on Saturday morning, it had vanished. Messina then dialed the sheriff's office. "You've got to be heartless," Messina stated. "These trucks are pretty important right now and to park it in a gated lot and lose it overnight the second day you've been here. I've never seen anything like it."

Currently, deputies are attempting to obtain surveillance footage pointing at the lot from a camera located in the company next door. As they continue to work here over the next few months to assist with Hurricane Milton cleanup, Messina and his crew are currently staying in a camper at the site to safeguard the remaining trucks and equipment.

"They're professional. They must have a box or something to start these trucks and drive away," Messina said. The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office is asking anyone with knowledge on the stolen debris truck to give them a call.

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Hurricane Helene hit the Big Bend region of Florida early on September 27. Sadly, after Hurricane Idalia in 2023 and Hurricane Debby just this past August, this is the third hurricane to hit the region in the last 13 months. According to preliminary accounts, Helene's damage exceeds the combined devastation wrought by Debby and Idalia.

The storm has had a variety of devastating effects on Florida, with different areas suffering from differing levels of devastation. When the storm hit land, its width was 350 miles and its maximum speed was 140 miles per hour.

The storm surge, which flooded the Big Bend area with more than 15 feet of water, had the biggest effect. The storm's force was felt well outside its course. Records were broken along the west coast of Florida by Helene's storm surge. More than 10 feet of water rose in Cedar Key, more than 7 feet rose in Tampa, and 4 to 5 feet of water flooded the Fort Myers-Naples region. Another important element that caused long-lasting harm to plants and buildings was wind.