[sten]

he didn't bring it 40+ miles from home, strapped to the hood of his car then hump it around looking for a place to use it.

[mass55th]

"he didn't bring it 40+ miles from home, strapped to the hood of his car then hump it around looking for a place to use it."

Conveniently left there for his use? Even if he somehow got the ladder there the night before without being detected, a final, and thorough security sweep of the area should have discovered it, and removed it.