Alaska Public Media © 2025. All rights reserved.
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Man charged after using stolen front loader to rob liquor store

Repairman fix the front entrance to the Northern Lights Brown Jug following a front loader collision earlier that morning. (Photo by Wesley Early, Alaska Public Media - Anchorage)
Repairman fix the front entrance to the Northern Lights Brown Jug following a front loader collision earlier that morning. (Photo by Wesley Early, Alaska Public Media - Anchorage)

A man was charged with DUI, theft and criminal mischief among other charges after he ran a front loader into an Anchorage Brown Jug liquor store in order to rob it at around 3 in the morning on Thursday.

Download Audio

The driver, identified by police as 38-year-old Joseph Martin, allegedly stole the front loader from a nearby construction site, according to police. He then proceeded to ram the Brown Jug, the forklift attachment demolishing the front entrance.

No citizens were harmed, however there is extensive property damage to the liquor store. After a brief pursuit, police apprehended Martin and he was charged with trespassing, theft, criminal mischief and a felony DUI.

Here's a video of APD's pursuit of Martin, courtesy of the Anchorage Police Department:

Wesley Early covers Anchorage at Alaska Public Media. Reach him at wearly@alaskapublic.org or 907-550-8421.