SPRINGFIELD -- Investigators have seven suspects after a yearlong investigation into heavy equipment thefts. The crimes are spread across three counties.

The thieves took hundreds of thousands of dollars in farm equipment. John Gibbs was one of the victims.

“The John Deere tractors that were stolen didn't have 30 hours on them. They had just been bought the week before,” said Gibbs. They don't have much fear. They get it in there and take what they want."

To crack Gibbs’ case and hundreds of others, investigators tracked leads, found stolen equipment for sale and went undercover.

"We were able to recover over a million dollars worth of property since late 2007 and it was just too easy,” said Missouri State Highway Patrol Sgt. Mike Rogers.

James Hopkins of Elkland is charged in Polk County and other counties with 12 counts of receiving stolen property and one count of removing a vehicle identification number. Daniel Dykes of Springfield faces one count of receiving stolen property in Greene County. Joshua Miner of Pleasant Hope; Jayme Miner of Pleasant Hope; and Jasper Henson Jr., address not listed, are each charged in Polk County with receiving stolen property and removing a vehicle ID number. James Hutchinson faces similar charges. Another name will be released after an arrest.

One suspect was already in jail for a previously charged crime. On a judge's order, officers issued Jayme Miner a citation but she wasn't arrested.

"These were interconnected. Whether you want to call it a ring or a group of operatives, they communicate with each other, several of them, so there is connectivity to it,” said Greene County Sheriff Jim Arnott.

Those connections are far reaching. Investigators credit good leads, strong communication between the Missouri State Highway Patrol and sheriff’s deputies in Greene, Polk and Howell counties, and undercover work. Agents say they were able to work their way into a web of equipment thieves. Detectives say more arrests and more charges are certain.

Meanwhile, Gibbs is putting GPS systems on his largest equipment to try to keep thieves away and his investments safe.

"I hope he serves his time and justice is served,” he said as he watched one of the suspects in handcuffs at the Highway Patrol’s office.

This is some of the stolen equipment that was recovered during the investigation.

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Edited news release from Highway Patrol:

SPRINGFIELD -- After concluding a yearlong investigation, involving multiple law enforcement agencies, officers were arresting suspects on Tuesday morning for multiple thefts of heavy equipment.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol’s Division Of Drug and Crime Control (DDCC), in cooperation with the Missouri State Water Patrol, the Howell County Sheriff’s Department, Polk County Sheriff’s Department, and Greene County Sheriff’s Department developed several cases regarding agricultural equipment theft. The investigation culminated with the issuance of 36 arrest warrants for seven people in three counties.

The year long undercover investigation recovered, among many things, a stolen Kenworth tractor-trailer valued at $55,000; four John Deere tractors valued at $105,497, $46,223, $110,255, and $65,000; JD round bailer; a Kubota tractor, brush hog, front loader, and trailer valued at $21, 645; and a Bobcat (toolcat) and trailer valued at 31,000.

The multi-agency investigation revealed several other suspects related to crimes in southwest Missouri resulting in multiple investigations and anticipated arrests.

The suspects involved will be processed at Troop D headquarters and then jailed in Greene, Polk, and Howell counties.