TUMBLER RIDGE, B.C. - Mounties in northern B.C. are attempting to dredge up suspects in the theft of a bulldozer, excavator and other equipment worth an estimated $500,000.

Police were called out to a site down a forest service road near Tumbler Ridge on July 15.

RCMP say a drilling company left the equipment at the site last September when it put its operations in the area on hold.

Cpl. Dave Tyreman says the theft happened sometime over those 10 months.

Along with the excavation equipment, two trailers, water pumps and an unknown amount of tools also went missing.

The Catepillar has an estimated value of $232,000, while the Volvo excavator is worth about $200,000.