Mounties say they located a $300,000 loader just hours after it was stolen in Dieppe.

Police say the construction equipment was taken from a Babin Street business on Boxing Day.

“An older white GMC pickup truck arrived at the business and two individuals exited the truck,” RCMP said in a news release.

“They then got into the loader and fled the scene, damaging a fence on the property in the process.”

With help from the public, officers found the vehicle a short time later on Turtle Creek Road, near Riverview, but it fled onto a dirt trail.

By the time the vehicle was located again a short time later, the occupants had fled the scene.

That same day, officers also found the pickup truck involved in the theft and arrested the driver, who tried to flee on foot.

He was later released from custody and is scheduled to appear in Moncton Provincial Court on April 17.

Police are looking to talk to anyone who may have information regarding the theft or the two individuals involved.

You can contact Codiac Regional RCMP at 506-857-2400 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.