Police are investigating after a man hopped on a backhoe and tore up a Bridgeton construction site, causing thousands of dollars in damage.

Officers responded to a work site on North Laurel Street at Church Lane on Saturday night around 8:30 p.m. in response to a report of vandalism.

They were told a man in a construction helmet used a backhoe to ride around the site and smash an electric utility pole, breaker box, an office trailer and the backhoe itself, according to police.

The suspect then left the area. Damage was estimated at $13,500.

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