DOWAGIAC (WKZO) -- The Van Buren County Sheriff's Department's investigating the theft of a hefty piece of equipment in Dowagiac.  They say that someone made off with a  Swisher brand heavy duty log splitter sometime between midnight and 6 a.m. Thursday.  It was reported stolen from the Bill Ross & Sons Trucking Company property along M-152.

The machine, red in color with 10.5 horse power has 28 tons of splitting power.  They suspect it took at least two people to move it and hitch it to a motor vehicle capable of hauling it away.  Tips from the public are welcome.