For Immediate Release: 
August 19, 2016
Contact: Laramie Adams
Cell: 512-922-7328
Seeking More Information on Theft Case
Nowata, Okla. – Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association (TSCRA) Special Ranger John Cummings recovered a tractor on Monday that was stolen in January 2016 from a Nowata, Okla. rancher. Cummings and local authorities are still seeking useful information regarding a generator that was stolen along with the tractor.
TSCRA received information Monday on the location of the stolen tractor. A local man spotted the tractor in a pasture located west of Nowata off of SH 60. The circumstances were suspicious, so the man took some photographs of the tractor and its data plate. The citizen then went home and did an internet search for a stolen tractor in the Nowata, Okla. area.
The internet search resulted in a TSCRA press release describing the tractor with loader in detail. The release had been published in January 2016 just after the theft was reported. The witness contacted TSCRA headquarters via email and the information was sent to Cummings who took the initial report on the theft.
Cummings met the witness at the location and confirmed that it was in fact the stolen tractor reported in January 2016. The Nowata County Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene and the tractor was recovered. Also located was a small utility cart that had a generator on it at the time of the theft. The generator was not located at the scene and is remains listed as stolen. The generator was described as a Honeywell model 6500.
“This is a great example of how social media and the internet can aid law enforcement in the recovery of stolen property,” said Cummings. “According to the witness in this case, the TSCRA press releases and listings were the only public forum he found that listed the tractor as stolen and he responded by contacting TSCRA immediately.”
In an email to TSCRA, the citizen stated, “I have located a tractor that I suspected was stolen and I Googled “stolen tractor in Nowata County” and found an article where this tractor was listed and the serial numbers matched. The only mention of it I found on the internet was a TSCRA article. I’m calling one of your special agents and the Sheriff’s office this afternoon to report it. Kudos to your organization.”
TSCRA would like to thank the helpful citizen, Nowata County Sheriff Rick Miller and Lt. Mark Wright for their assistance in the recovery of this tractor.
Anyone with further information on the recovered tractor, missing generator or possible suspect(s) should contact Cummings at 918-342-0888 or TSCRA’s Operation Cow Thief hotline at 888-830-2333. Individuals reporting information may choose to remain anonymous.
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TSCRA has 30 special rangers stationed strategically throughout Texas and Oklahoma who have in-depth knowledge of the cattle industry and are trained in all facets of law enforcement. All are commissioned as Special Rangers by the Texas Department of Public Safety and/or the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation.
TSCRA is a 139-year-old trade association and is the largest and oldest livestock organization based in Texas. TSCRA has more than 17,000 beef cattle operations, ranching families and businesses as members. These members represent approximately 50,000 individuals directly involved in ranching and beef production who manage 4 million head of cattle on 76 million acres of range and pasture land primarily in Texas and Oklahoma, but throughout the Southwest.