Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Latta High band seeks public's help to find stolen trailer

By Patricia Burkett
Published: August 04, 2010

LATTA — The Latta High School band will be in a pinch when it comes to transporting equipment this season after someone stole its utility trailer right off of the school’s property.

The theft happened sometime between July 27 and Monday, Latta Police Lt. Crystal Moore said.

The trailer was last seen July 26 outside of the band room at the high school, she said. Band practice started Monday and that’s when officials noticed the trailer was stolen.

“I noticed it Monday because I tried to park where it was and I didn’t really notice it was gone until we figured out that it was gone and it dawned on me that I had parked there,” Latta High School Principal George Liebenrood said.

The trailer was purchased in 1998 by a parent who raised money throughout the community to help pay for the item’s more than $2,000 price tag.

Moore described the enclosed trailer as being 6-by-10 feet long with white with green and gold lettering with the Latta Viking Marching Band logo on it. Inside the trailer was the drum major’s podium, which is made of metal and steel.

School officials said the trailer provided an essential service for the band and officials did not know how they would transport instruments this season without it.

“We use this trailer for several things during the year, mainly for competitions and travel for our marching band,” Latta High School Band Director Tyler Hutto said. “Mainly for our marching band, trying to load instruments and carry instruments to different places you know, there’s lots of equipment involved to take a band on the road, so we’re kind of upset that we’re not having that opportunity now.”

Police are working to retrieve footage from the school’s surveillance system, but it is proving to be a difficult task because there is such a large window of time in which the theft could have taken place.

The theft is especially bad for the school district in light of recent budget cuts.

On July 20, Dillon County School Board members voted to adopt a new funding system for the county. Five members voted for the new budget system, while three voted against it. The three who voted against it are all from the Latta school district, one of three districts that could be affected the most by the change.

Dr. John Kirby, superintendent of Dillon School District 3 based in Latta, said in a previous interview he and his board will fight the vote, even if it means litigation.

The district has long-used a “per pupil” system for budgeting its schools. But now, the district will implement a tax-based system.

Dillon School Districts 1, 2 and 3 will have to redo their fiscal year budgets because of this change.

Kirby said his district would lose about $300,000 in funding.

Liebenrood said though officials do not yet know how or if they will be able to replace the trailer, they are hoping someone sees it and calls authorities or that the trailer is returned.

“It’s hard for me to believe that somebody would take something that kids use and it’s for their program and they know how much it means to the band program to have this trailer to travel to contests,” he said. “It’s just vital to the program and we desperately need it back.”

Anyone with information about this case is asked to call the police department at (843) 752-4718 or the state Crime Stoppers hotline at (888) CRIME SC (274-6372). Callers need not reveal their identities.

It has gotten so bad they now have "Decoy Trailers"

Published: August 17, 2010

Father and son arrested in theft of Midwest City police 'bait trailer”

FROM STAFF REPORTS

MIDWEST CITY — A father and son were arrested in connection with the theft of a "bait trailer” equipped with a police GPS tracing device.

Thomas Beach Scott Jr., 41, and his son, Kyle Travis Scott , 20, both of Oklahoma City , were arrested early Monday, Midwest City Police Chief Brandon Clabes said.

They were jailed on complaints of grand larceny, possession of a controlled and dangerous s...

Crime Prevention Alert – Thefts of Utility Trailers | 23 August 2010

Crime Prevention Alert – Thefts of Utility Trailers | 23 August 2010

Three (3) utility trailers have been reported stolen in Clayton over the past three weeks.

August 4, 2010: a 2008 Shivers flatbed 5' x 8' black utility trailer was stolen from 603 N. Fayetteville St.
August 8, 2010: an enclosed white 2008 American utility trailer was taken from 1009 Breeze Ln.
August 20, 2010: an enclosed utility trailer was taken from 242 Pineland Ave.

The trailer from Pineland Ave. was recovered after being abandoned with flat tires on Norris Rd. south of Clayton (photo attached), but some property was stolen from inside. Additionally, the Johnston County Sheriff's Office has received at least a half dozen similar reports of utility trailers being stolen from the area surrounding Clayton within the last thirty days.

Most of the trailers had locks that were removed with a cutting tool before being towed away. Trailer owners are urged to take security precautions to include locking mechanisms and positioning stored trailers so that vehicles, structures, or other obstacles might placed to prohibit access to a towing vehicle. (Although no boat/trailers have been reported stolen recently, owners of such property should take similar security precautions whenever possible.)

Stolen Trailers In Virginia... Marching Band Trailer Stolen from E.C. Glass

Note: We know what needs to be done...yet nobody except the state of Illinois has done anything.

Posted: Aug 17, 2010 5:00 PM EDT

Click Here To See The Video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qos3iV02Quo

Marching Band Trailer Stolen from E.C. Glass

Lynchburg, VA - Another area high school marching band is at a disadvantage this fall.

Gretna High School's marching band trailer, which contained some of their uniforms and equipment, was taken a few weeks ago. Now, a trailer theft at E.C. Glass has some wondering if the two are connected.

E.C. Glass representatives say their situation is bad but not nearly as bad as Gretna's. E.C. Glass lost the flatbed trailer. There was nothing inside of it. Those affiliated with the band say it is a big deal, however.

It is the second week of band practice at E.C. Glass High School.

"It really is a shame. People don't... what kind of world are we living in if people can just come and take our trailer?" said 12th grader Josh Bayliss.

Bayliss is bewildered.

"To have something taken that you worked hard for, that all the kids have worked hard for that's very frustrating," he said.

The theft happened earlier this summer on school grounds. It will cost about $1,500 to replace.

"We are stretched to the limit this year," said Heather Knopp, EC Glass Band Booster President.

Unfortunately, the Band Boosters Organization cannot afford to foot the bill.

"Without it, there's no way we can get everything to the field to use it," said 2010 alum Callie Dupree.

We are told the trailer looks similar to ones used by landscapers and it was used to move heavy materials.

"The walking stage that we actually walk on breaks down into four different pieces," said Brielle Farrow, 12 grade.

Students say they do not know how they would start the season without it.

"We would have to get like, everyone even the parents to move it," said Farrow.

"It doesn't seem like much but it is a very critical piece of equipment for our operation," said Knopp.

E.C. Glass is asking for donations from the community. They hope to get a new trailer before their first game, September 10.

Lynchburg Police say they have no leads in this case

Comments....
Natalie

I'm just saying, this is horrible! I'm in marching band, and if our trailer was stolen, our season would be pretty much over. If the trailer was full it would have been at least 100 grand in items that would take forever to replace. Why would someone do something so horrible?

Wednesday, August 18, 2010, 8:10:16 PM

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Ronmelancon

Please go to www.dangeroustrailers.org and see what is going on ....a number of years ago we noticed that these trailers are also being stolen.

What is going on is these companies use cheap vin number tags. They are being stolen and the old vin number is simply ripped off.

Then they call our Crazy DMV and tell them they have a "Home Made" trailer then they send someone out who has idea what a "Home Made " trailer is and issues a NEW VIN NUMBER.

What the police should do is for the next few weeks monitor all new applications for "Home Made" trailers getting new Vin numbers and you will find the stolen trailer.

When DMV issues a new vin number the crooks then sell them on Craigs list or on EBAy....don't believe me...look for your self...go here In one county in Illinois they had 4,000 registered 'Home Made Trailers" but guess what?

3,990 were stolen!!!!

Stolen Utility Trailers have gotten so bad the police are now using them a Decoys...go here..
http://newsok.com/father-son-arrested-in-bait-trailer-theft/article/3485889

DMV is encouraging people to keep stealing Utility Trailers because it is very easy to get a new VIN Number.

Google " how to Register A Homemade Trailer" Open your eyes!!!

http://www.dangeroustrailers.org/Stolen_Utility_Trailers.html

Sheriff's Detective Barry Boutwell said the department has handled reports of four trailers being stolen in the past 12 days

Police estimate of the roughly 4,000 registered homemade trailers in Boone and Winnebago Counties, only about ten of them really are. They think the rest are commercially made and stolen.

Wednesday, August 18, 2010, 6:43:25 AM

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Wake UP!!!! Trailer thief nabbed "OVER 30 Stolen Trailers"

Trailer thief nabbed

By ROBERT LEE LONG
Community Editor

Published: Saturday, October 16, 2010 1:05 AM CDT

DESOTO COUNTY — An Arkansas man has been arrested in connection with a string of utility trailer thefts in DeSoto and Marshall counties.

In a joint statement issued Friday, DeSoto County Sheriff Bill Rasco and Marshall Sheriff Kenny Dickerson said Jimmie Lee Rook, 44, of Colt, Arkansas, have been arrested on four counts of grand larceny in Marshall County, with additional counts pending in DeSoto County.

For the past three months, law enforcement agencies in Marshall and DeSoto counties, along with agencies in Tennessee, have been on the alert in an effort to identify the person or persons responsible for the multiple utility trailer thefts.

Warrants were issued along with bulletins requesting information for Rook's whereabouts across the Mid-South.

In Fayette County, an alert citizen involved in a Neighborhood Watch program, provided a description of the driver and vehicle, a gold-colored S10 pickup, used in the theft of a trailer in Fayette County.

Based upon this information, Marshall County Deputy Sheriff Scott Johnson spotted Rook's vehicle on Oct. 8 on Miss. Hwy. 309 in Marshall County.

The officer gave pursuit and Rook bolted out of the truck and into a wooded area.

Johnson gave a foot chase and apprehended Rook who was quickly brought into custody.

The multi-agency investigation has resulted in the recovery of more than 30 stolen utility trailers from DeSoto and surrounding areas. Many of the trailers have been modified and serial numbers removed. Modifications were also made which included color changes, and tires and rims being switched in an effort to disguise the original appearance of the trailers.

Owners of utility trailers are reminded to take photos of their equipment in the event they are stolen.

Anyone having any more information on these crimes or other incidents are urged to call 662-429-1470 or 662-429-TIPS.

Robert Lee Long: rlong@desototimestribune.com or at 662-429-6397, Ext. 252

Wheelchair trailer stolen from local non-profit

Click Here To See The Video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=61uhpS0pgCo

Jon Bowman Reporter

7:39 p.m. MDT, October 26, 2010

DENVER - The folks who operate the Kids Mobility Network, a Colorado non-profit that helps children with disabilities obtain wheelchairs and walkers, were out of town last week. That is when the $4,000 trailer they use to pick up and deliver equipment went missing from a Sheridan industrial park.

“We have had to cut our pick-ups at homes where kids have outgrown their durable medical equipment,” said founder Peter Kopp. “These chairs and other units are very heavy and our trailer had a drop down ramp which made transporting equipment manageable. Now, we must do one chair at a time, instead of setting up a delivery route to drop off and pick up.”

The white trailer was anchored in the parking lot behind their unit, but the thieves broke a metal rod that was used to secure the rig.

Peter Kopp and his wife Christy are at a loss as to who would take their rig that helps kids in so many ways.

“We don’t want revenge or anything. We just need our rig back to help bring mobility to kids in need,” said Christy Kopp.

They think someone in the landscaping or construction business may have nabbed the rig which had many add-ons, including a side door. Unfortunately, they had no painting other identifying marks on the trailer.

The license plate that was on the traveling box was 211 OCT and the rig is 6 by 10, white, single-axel, enclosed cargo trailer made by Continental.

If you have any information about the theft, call Sheridan Police at 303.762.2211. To help Kids Mobility Network call 303.242.8281.

Thief steals wheelchair-basketball team's trailer, equipment

Posted: Oct 04, 2010 5:26 PM EDT Updated: Oct 08, 2010 7:28 PM EDT

Click Here For The Video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6P5p_5DvZ0M

By Taylor Kearns - bio | email

COLUMBIA, SC (WIS) - Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott is asking for the community's help identifying and locating a grand larceny suspect.

Lott stated that a white trailer with the logo "LIMITLESS SPORTS" was stolen Friday night from the parking lot on Boney Road. Inside were six to eight specialized wheelchairs, a portable goal and extra gear. The team says the value of the chairs and equipment tops $15,000.

Investigators have determined that the trailer was stolen by a newer model dual pickup truck with running boards and lights on top of the cab.

At first, Catherine Lee Graham saw the Rolling Thunder as a chance at a better workout. That was seven years ago, and today, what was great exercise is an extended family. "It was like getting 10 older brothers simultaneously, but they showed me the ropes they taught me the rules of basketball which even seven years later I still don't understand some times," laughed Graham.

It was an opportunity Graham says others could now miss out on. "We can go to one game and damage a wheel easily, and if you don't have a spare to replace it with, you're just out of luck for weeks on end," said Graham.

"They're sports chairs, they're angled different," said Coach Johna Sutton. "They're set up different."

The stolen chairs made up a reserve the team or new players could use. "If you have any heart at all, please just return the chairs," said Sutton. "You know where you got 'em from, you know what time the park closes 'cause that's when you came. Just return the chairs."

Graham says the team can't afford to replace all the gear. That means anyone interested in joining the team could be missing out on the exercise and the experience that goes with it. "It's giving someone else the positive outlook that may not have had it with dealing all of the issues of a new injury, and it's very disheartening to think we can't provide that," said Graham.

You can learn more about Rolling Thunder by clicking here. If anyone has any information about this incident or knows the identity of the suspects they are asked to call, text or email their anonymous tip to Crimestoppers at 1-888-CRIME-SC.

Trailer with stolen wheelchairs recovered in NC

Posted: Oct 07, 2010 3:04 AM EDT Updated: Oct 07, 2010 9:31 AM EDT

GASTON, NC (WIS) - Police in Gaston, NC have recovered a trailer that was stolen from a park on Boney Road in Blythewood over the weekend.

The trailer contained wheelchair equipment used by a group of athletes that use the chairs to exercise at the park.

Authorities received an anonymous tip through Crimestoppers that lead them to a home in the Gaston area. Terry Allen Tucker was arrested and is charged with receiving stolen goods.

The wheelchairs were recovered inside the trailer. Right now RCSD doesn't know when the trailer will be returned.

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