A Tennessee homeowner trying to sell a renovated property was shocked to discover her entire concrete driveway had been stolen, leaving her with a costly mystery to solve.
Paige Batten, a realtor who purchased the home in 2024 as a flip project, said the discovery came after a potential buyer called to ask when the driveway would be completed. Batten responded that the driveway was already there, only to learn it had been torn out sometime on November 14.
First reported by Local 3 News, witnesses in the neighborhood claimed multiple trucks and heavy equipment were on the property for roughly two hours the morning of the heist. Residents described a truck with a trailer, a dump truck hauling a backhoe, and another truck with additional equipment. Many assumed the crew had been hired to perform legitimate work.
Driveway stolen in broad daylight
Batten said she contacted the non-emergency line to report the removal but struggled to explain the situation because of how unusual it sounded. She added that some people believed early photos of the missing driveway were AI generated until they visited the home in person.
Neighbors told reporters they saw or heard machinery lifting the concrete but never questioned the activity because it appeared routine. One resident said she saw workers taking up the driveway while taking her kids to the bus stop.
Batten believes the crew may have simply gone to the wrong address, but if no one comes forward the replacement could cost her around $12,000 USD. She said her priority is finding whoever performed the work so the mistake can be corrected without leaving her responsible for the bill.
