Forty-three pieces of heavy equipment stolen in Kentucky, West Virginia and Ohio by two separate theft rings were recovered recently by the joint efforts of the Kentucky State Police, the FBI, and several Kentucky and Ohio sheriff's offices, according to a release from the state police.

The equipment, which included trailers, trucks, bulldozers and excavators, was worth an estimated $1.3 million.

The investigation started March 5 when Carter County Deputy Sheriff Richard May, acting on information from the FBI, found 19 vehicles with their VIN numbers obscured at a home near Grayson, the release said. The discovery led to an arrest on two charges of receiving stolen property. More equipment was later found in Lewis County and Portsmouth, Ohio.

More charges and arrests are expected.