Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Missing trailers

We have had a rash of trailer thefts lately. So far this year, 15 trailers have been stolen (not to be confused with stuff stolen from trailers--a much larger number). The total loss has been $35,825. Nine of these offenses have occurred since May 1, so the trend is picking up.

When you think about it, a trailer is a rather easy mark. An unsecured trailer is like golf clubs in an open garage: it comes with its own handle. In this case, of course, the handle is easy to hitch up to in just a matter of seconds and drive away.

The best protection: keep it inside, if you can. If not, make sure that you've got a big log chain and a tough padlock, connected to a sturdy object. The object here is to make it difficult for a druggie with a trailer hitch and bolt cutters to remove your trailer. It's not a guarantee, but unorganized thieves always move on to the easy targets.

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

When caught, are trailer thieves charged just like auto thieves, since trailers are registered, taxed, and licensed, similar to motor vehicles?

Anonymous said...

Probably easier to get rid of a stolen trailer then a stolen auto. Do they have VINs?

Anonymous said...

http://www.journalstar.com/articles/2008/06/10/news/local/doc484e9b7ed7fa0802201433.txt#cancel

GREAT JOB! You guys got the car guys and found a bunch of stolen goods. I am glad you did because when or if they came to my car, I have been waiting. I also seen Andrew Ferrell walking in the area looking around just the other day.
BBRK

Anonymous said...

They typically just say that they 'bought' the trailer from a guy named _______ (fill in the blank with a vague nickname like "T") and they swear to Odin that they didn't know it was stolen...not much happens to them really, kinda like the kids who broke into Scheels and stole all the guns...just a slap on the wrist is all they get around here.

Anonymous said...

Yes, this is a problem. My mom and her boyfriend had their trailer broken into and belongings taken out of it. Officer Flood was excellent during the whole situation. I believe everything Chief talks about on here three times plus per week, is linked to the spike in drug use in our city. I've lived here all my life. Citizens are both trusting and trustworthy. A small group of people are ruining it for the rest of us. If we see something suspicious, report it to the police immediately. That is really the best way to PREVENT crime rather than solve it.

Anonymous said...

Unorganized thieves v. disorganized thieves.

Unorganized: not a group effort; sort of the non-Mafia.

Disorganized: what I would perceive a typical druggie to be; life a shambles; a big mess. An opportunist.

Anonymous said...

Another trailer. Did the report indicate what sort of padlock was cut?

Tom Casady said...

12:12 AM

Standard padlock--Master brand. Construction sites like this are really vulnerable when there is not good natural surveillance from the street and from neighbors.

Anonymous said...

I'm not sure what you'd do on a project like that. A big site with an expensive project (for example, a new apartment complex, business park, etc) can sometimes support some sort of security guard/lights/fence - you just allow for it in your bids (common practice in some metro areas). That's cost-prohibitive for a small project, and for those it's much cheaper to just have a theft insurance policy.