A 48-year-old Melancthon resident was scheduled to appear in Ontario Court at Orangeville this morning on charges of possession of stolen property with a value in excess of $170,000.

Dufferin OPP Constable Al Buck wasn't certain about the total value of the assortment of construction and equipment recovered after a joint investigation by Dufferin, Grey and Central Region OPP along with Toronto Police Services, some of which had been seized on April 16 and some this Tuesday, April 24.

He said some of the property had already been returned to the rightful owners, and some might remain in limbo as it had been stolen last year, and might already have been subject to insurance claims.

In the initial search of farm property occupied by Jose Manuel Garcia on Highway 10 north of Shelburne, police recovered two skid steers, flat bed construction equipment, a dual axle hydraulic dump trailer, and a double bed snowmobile trailer.

In a subsequent search, police seized a Wallenstein wood splitter, a Polyquip portable welder, gas powered cement mixer, Gasboy portable water pump, Makita miter saw, Craftsman rototiller, portable hoist, two push lawn mowers, a snow blower, riding lawn tractor, Arctic Cat utility vehicle, and a Polaris Sportsman 500 cc ATV.

Following his arrest on April 16, Mr. Garcia was released on bail April 17, and was scheduled for his first court appearance at 9 a.m. April 26 on a charge of possession of stolen property valued at more than $5,000..

Constable Buck said the additional property recovered Tuesday would be added to the initial information from April 16.