WESTFIELD — A Westfield couple is frustrated and feeling defeated after thieves targeted their business not once but twice.
Royce Simpkins is a veteran who owns Greenlawn by Design, a landscaping business. On Wednesday, Simpkins and his wife discovered their truck, trailer and three mowers were stolen from their shop on State Road 32. The next day, state police found the truck and equipment wrecked on the south side of Indianapolis.
"I come pulling up to the shop here and noticed one of the bay doors were open. I was thinking 'someone is here early, going to get busy,'" Simpkins said. "I looked inside the bay — truck, trailer, mowers, a lot of equipment gone."
Surveillance cameras inside show a suspect in their office. Royce's wife, Catherine, said she was devastated when she found out their business was targeted.
"I went to the floor. I went in my bedroom and started crying. It's heartbreaking," Catherine Micow-Simpkins said. "When you have folks come in and steal from you, it really takes all the wind out of your sails."
Royce is a U.S. Army veteran who spent 20 years serving our country.
This isn't the first time thieves targeted the business. Back in February someone stole a trailer.
"I've been working at this job for 14 years," Royce said. "I put in 10-14 hours a day, six days a week. It's just not right."
