Nashville Woman Charged in $39,000 Equipment Theft

A 23-year-old faces felony charges after failing to return a boom lift rented from a Madison Home Depot.

Updated on Oct. 28, 2026 in Property Crime

Nashville Woman Charged in $39,000 Equipment Theft

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Rebecca Walpole, 23, was booked in Davidson County on felony theft of property charges involving a stolen $39,000 boom lift. She is accused of failing to return the construction equipment after renting it in May.

Why it matters

The case highlights the risks retailers face from individuals who rent high-value machinery and fail to return it. Authorities linked the theft to a wider scheme involving the illicit sale of rental equipment on social media platforms.

Rebecca Walpole is currently held in Davidson County on a $10,000 bond. She faces a felony theft of property charge for the unreturned $39,000 boom lift.

The players

Rebecca Walpole

The 23-year-old suspect is currently facing felony theft of property charges in Nashville.

Home Depot

The home improvement retailer reported the theft of a boom lift after the equipment was never returned.

The details

Walpole and a male accomplice allegedly rented the boom lift from a Madison Home Depot on May 26 and used a silver Dodge Ram to tow it away. The male suspect was subsequently arrested in Michigan after admitting to selling similar rented equipment on Facebook Marketplace.

May 26: The boom lift was rented from the Madison Home Depot.
Sept. 23: The male suspect was arrested in Michigan.

Legal Context

The incident mirrors a rise in industrial equipment theft that has prompted increased scrutiny from regional law enforcement. This case follows a trend where rented assets are systematically diverted to secondary online markets for quick liquidation.

Local businesses may implement stricter verification processes for equipment rentals to prevent similar theft schemes. Residents are advised to be cautious when purchasing heavy machinery from private sellers on social media platforms.

The takeaway

Retailers and rental companies continue to grapple with losses from fraudulent rental agreements. Experts recommend verifying serial numbers and checking the legitimacy of private sellers before finalizing any high-value equipment purchases.