Man Steals Oshkosh M1070 Tank Transporter, Immediately Gets Stuck On Beach

Recently the San Luis Obispo Sheriff’s Office responded to a call about a suspicious vehicle parked in Los Osos, California. The vehicle in question was not just any ordinary truck; it was identified as an Oshkosh M1070 Heavy Equipment Transporter (HET).

Designed to U.S. Army specifications, the M1070 is a powerful machine capable of hauling immense loads, including self-propelled artillery, armored vehicles, and even the formidable M1 Abrams tank. This particular M1070 was mysteriously parked near Morro Bay.

The reason?

It had been stolen during its transit to Southern California. The audacity of stealing a military transporter—especially one capable of carrying a tank—sounds like a plot straight out of a Fast & Furious movie. Indeed, the unfolding events mirrored the high-octane drama of the franchise.

Upon the arrival of the deputies, the suspect behind the wheel of the M1070 fled, initiating a pursuit that led to Montana de Oro State Park. The chase ended dramatically as the vehicle crashed through a gate and became lodged in the sandy terrain of Sandspit Beach. One deputy humorously remarked, “If I were a SLO Sheriff’s Deputy, I’d have been looking for hidden cameras at this point.”

Despite being immobilized and surrounded by an array of law enforcement agencies—including SLO sheriff’s deputies, Harbor Patrol, the U.S. Coast Guard, and California State Park Rangers—the driver refused to exit the vehicle. The situation demanded the intervention of the SLO Sheriff’s Special Enforcement Detail (SED), who resorted to using tear gas to extract the suspect from the transporter.

The driver, identified as 63-year-old Patrick Kevin Van Ess from Los Angeles, was finally taken into custody. Van Ess faces multiple charges, including vehicle theft, evasion, and destruction of public property. The latter two charges are classified as felonies in California, while vehicle theft can be prosecuted as either a misdemeanor or a felony.

Given the circumstances and the involvement of numerous law enforcement agencies, Van Ess is likely to face additional felony charges.

The investigation is still going on.