$125,000 Generator Theft Could Have Been Prevented

$125,000 Generator Stolen in Early-Morning Heist; Police Seek Public’s Help

Ottawa, ON — The Ottawa Police Service is asking for the public’s assistance after a mobile generator and trailer, valued at approximately $125,000, were stolen in a brazen early-morning theft from a storage yard in the 2500 block of Carp Road.

The theft occurred at around 2:25 a.m. on February 9, when suspects gained access to the property by cutting through the lock on the main gates. Once inside, they quickly hitched the generator and its trailer to a white heavy-duty pickup truck and fled the scene.

According to west division detectives, the suspects left behind few clues. A grainy image from a security camera captured the truck, but the licence plate was not legible, and there is currently no description of the individuals involved.

The stolen generator is a “multi-coloured” Atlas Copco 330 mobile unit, bearing the branding of “Temp Gen,” the rental company that owned it. It was mounted on a grey trailer with Ontario licence plate Z3947H.

Investigators are urging anyone with information about the theft or the suspect vehicle to come forward.

“This was a highly coordinated theft that likely involved planning and knowledge of the yard’s layout,” said one officer familiar with the case. “These types of crimes are financially devastating for local businesses and difficult to solve without public tips or surveillance breakthroughs.”

How This Could Have Been Prevented: The Role of Wheel Locks in Theft Prevention

Experts in vehicle and equipment security say that a simple, affordable device could have made a big difference in this case. A California Immobilizer Defender Wheel Lock or Immobilizer-A Wheel Lock, both offered by Immobilize.com, might have prevented the trailer from being towed away.

These robust wheel locks clamp securely around the wheel of a trailer or generator, rendering it immobile—even if the thieves manage to breach gates or hitch it to a vehicle. Made from hardened steel and resistant to cutting, prying, and tampering, these devices are widely recommended for construction equipment, trailers, and recreational vehicles.

In this case, applying an Immobilizer wheel lock to even one tire on the generator trailer would have stopped it from rolling, likely discouraging the theft entirely or delaying the criminals long enough for security measures to be triggered.

With heavy equipment thefts on the rise across Canada, including in Ottawa’s west end, security professionals are urging businesses to take additional precautions. Wheel locks are one of the most effective passive deterrents available—affordable, easy to use, and hard for criminals to defeat.