STERLING – Police have a John Deere utility vehicle they say was used to break into Northland Mall on May 12 and haul away an ATM.

The Gator was found June 7 on Riverdale Road in Rock Falls by a person hiking the Hennepin Canal. State Police and Whiteside County Sheriff’s deputies recovered the vehicle and contacted Sterling Police the next day.

It’s missing a piece of the right front fender that matches a piece found at the mall. It appears the Gator was near the canal 2 or 3 days before it was found, Sterling officer Mike Henry said.