Stolen trailers online costing buyers thousands

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Stolen trailers online costing buyers thousands

Posted: Sep 20, 2010 10:06 PM EDT

by John Cuoco

WACO- After spending thousands on a trailer they bought online, more and more Central Texans are finding out why they got such a good deal, their purchase was actually stolen property.

It is two part problem, the down economy is a major factor and the simple fact that trailers are easy for thieves to steal.

People are buying utility or cargo trailers on web sites like Craigslist and E-bay at a good price.

But when they go to get a title, they can't because they're in possession of stolen property.

"If they bought it from an individual, it means they may have lost the money they spent, if they already paid for it," Joey Canady, Heart of Texas Auto Theft Task Force, said.

Trailer retailers have also lost thousands from crooks looting their property.

"They actually ripped the fence down and pulled a 20 foot trailer forward enough to get three others trailers out," Donny Stanley, of Phil's Trailer Sales, said.

The task force believes the down economy has thieves looking to make some quick cash.

"People looking for a quick buck, looking for things to sell, steal a trailer, sell it for cash, cheap cash on the Internet, and they're easy to get rid of," Canady said.

And on top of that, trailers are easy targets, all you need is a trailer hitch.

"They hook up to the truck, and the next thing you know? They're gone," Stanley added.

If you're buying a trailer, the auto theft task force says to check out the decals, vin numbers, title, and overall look to make it's a legit buy.

Stanley said for owners a trailer to make it difficult for crooks to steal by chaining up their trailer at the axles.

Online trailers can often be disguised as homemade trailers which do not need vin numbers or titles, but if it looks new, it likely could be stolen.

Latta High's band trailer stolen

Read more: Local, Crime, Latta High School Band Members, Latta High School, Latta High School Utility Trailer Stolen

Latta High School band members are starting their musical season off on a sour note. This week, thieves made off with the band's utility trailer.

Wednesday, the Latta High School band members practiced for their first performance which is coming up in two weeks. They're pretty excited about how they sound, but Tuesday the musicians got the bad news that someone stole their utility trailer.

Tyler Hutto is the band's director. "Just kind of stuck out that it wasn't there. We looked around... couldn't find it."

They soon realized someone drove off with it - and the five foot tall drum major stand inside.

Replacing it won't be easy.

"You can't travel to a band contest or football game with 60 kids with instruments, props and flags and not have someplace to put them," said the school's principal, George Liebenrood.

A parent bought the trailer for the band in the late 1990's for around $1,800. Officials say buying it today could cost twice as much, and with budget cuts that's easier said than done.

So, they're keeping their fingers crossed that police will recover the stolen goods so they can keep the music playing.

Police are looking at surveillance video from cameras around the school to develop leads on a suspect. In the meantime, the band director says they're looking into whether insurance will pay for the stolen items.