Lane County Sheriff Steven Edler said he and his deputies are searching out leads in the disappearance of four oilfield motors, worth more than $20,000 each.

The thefts occurred between Jan. 21 and Jan. 28 in western Lane County, he said.

Oilfield engines weigh about 2,800 pounds, he said. Thieves would have had to use a heavy truck with an auto crane to take the motors, he said.

At present, he does not have any leads in the case.

"They are even bolted down and they stole it," Edler said.

Oilfield-motor theft is the latest in rural crime. Edler said there was an incident in Barber County this year, as well.

Also, the Ark City Traveler reported two motors stolen about a month ago, valued at about $12,000 each. The Cowley County sheriff thought those involved probably worked in the oil industry.

Meanwhile, last fall, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation was helping Oklahoma's Garfield County Sheriff's Office in a case involving the theft of two pump motors from an oilfield site. Those motors were valued at $20,000 each.

Joel Blodgref, a Sedgwick County Sheriff's deputy who supervises the Construction Agriculture Livestock Information Network, said he didn't know of any other pump motor thefts in Kansas.

CALIN is a multi-state network with the object to get information out regarding stolen farm and construction equipment and livestock, as well as suspicious activities that occur. It has more than 370 participants across Kansas, Oklahoma, Missouri and Texas.

Blodgref said there are many reports regarding thieves stealing copper wire out of irrigation center-pivots. They also are stealing parts of tractors, as well as batteries.

Edler said Larson Engineering, the company that owns the motors, is offering a $25,000 reward for information that leads to any conviction. Edler also stressed that residents should report suspicious activity, including movement at an oil field at night.

Those with tips can call the sheriff's department at (620) 397-2828.

NETWORK

The Sedgwick County Sheriff's Office is actively expanding the Construction Agriculture Livestock Information Network in an effort to better locate and return stolen equipment and livestock. Those interested in being part of the network should visit www.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriff. The CALIN link is under Crime Prevention section.