Kat_Mac
05-08-2006, 02:37 PM
Trailer owners seek ways to thwart thieves
BY NITA BIRMINGHAM
The Post and Courier
Ken Roberts, whose 14-foot-long enclosed trailer was stolen from the storage area of the Pine Forest subdivision in Dorchester County, has discouraging words for other trailer owners.
"Either forget your love for the thing or sleep in it so at least you can call 911 when they steal it," he said wryly.
Roberts is part of a small group of Lowcountry residents who said they're tired of finding nothing but tire tracks where their trailers were parked. A few theft victims started meeting to come up with ways to at least make the crime easier for law enforcement to solve and increase the odds of getting their property back.
The group started with several businessmen comparing notes on their losses. They decided to run a classified ad under "trailers for sale" to find other victims. Goose Creek businessman Doug Curry has a list of about 15 people, representing a total loss of about $63,000. That includes the $13,000 trailer stolen in October 2005 from Curry's business, DVS Inc., on St. James Avenue.
While still in the early stages, the group has come up with several ideas:
--Require vehicle identification numbers on trailers.
--Require state registration and possibly tags.
--Expand the pawnshop transaction database statewide.
While even police say it's almost impossible to protect a piece of property that someone is intent on stealing, there are measures than can be taken to make trailers easier to track.
Requiring titles on trailers is a good place to start, Berkeley County Sheriff's Detective Bob Shuler said. He investigates property crimes from Summerville to Moncks Corner and said it's rare that trailer owners can provide any kind of identification number for the property. A lot of trailers look identical, which makes them more difficult to identify.
Requiring titles would also make it harder for thieves to pawn trailers, Berkeley County Sheriff's Capt. Rick Ollic said.
Feelings are mixed about requiring trailers to have license plates because of the property tax attached.
Some state representatives said they aren't sure requiring registration is the solution.
David Umphlett, a Republican from Moncks Corner, said the idea came up last year, but legislation was never introduced. Tags can be taken off and serial numbers can be etched out or removed with a welding torch, Umphlett said. People are also tired of being taxed, he said.
Goose Creek Republican Shirley Hinson said she doubts registration would be effective.
"Guns are registered and very few are ever returned to the owners," she said.
Umphlett was more positive about requiring pawnshop owners to provide information to police. He said he has friends in Moncks Corner whose stolen trailers turned up at a pawnshop less than a month later.
Shuler said most pawnshops voluntarily provide transaction reports to law enforcement, but they aren't required to do so. Agencies can access the reports on computer but get information only from pawnshops in this area.
Curry said he hopes the loose-knit group that has formed will give a voice to the frustration of theft victims and force change. Owners are meanwhile doing what they can to make it more difficult for thieves to haul off their property and to get their trailers back.
Curry installed a locking gate to the driveway of his business. Other owners block in the trailers with cars, although the thieves who stole Curry's trailer first moved a smaller one out of the way.
The Internet is a popular tool. Charles Fields of North Charleston has posted photos and information on a drag-way site to try to find the trailer and dragster truck stolen in February from his son's house in Berkeley County.
"They call it a nonviolent crime. It was quite violent for me. I lost $35,000 with no insurance," Fields said.
Roberts also posted his stolen trailer on the Internet, but it turned out his property hadn't gone far. He found it at the Coastal Carolina Flea Market in Ladson, where he has a weekend stand. The trailer was loaded with fruit for sale and was in the possession of some guys who had a handwritten receipt showing they paid $500 for the $3,500 trailer. The seller's name, address and phone number were false.
Tips for trailer owners
*Park trailers where they aren't visible to passersby
*Use tongue locks
*Limit access by blocking trailers with vehicles
*Remove a tire
*Get a title if the trailer has a serial number
*Install removable hitches
*Mark the trailer, but do not use a Social Security number
Reach Nita Birmingham at 745-5858 or birmingham@postandcourier.com.
BY NITA BIRMINGHAM
The Post and Courier
Ken Roberts, whose 14-foot-long enclosed trailer was stolen from the storage area of the Pine Forest subdivision in Dorchester County, has discouraging words for other trailer owners.
"Either forget your love for the thing or sleep in it so at least you can call 911 when they steal it," he said wryly.
Roberts is part of a small group of Lowcountry residents who said they're tired of finding nothing but tire tracks where their trailers were parked. A few theft victims started meeting to come up with ways to at least make the crime easier for law enforcement to solve and increase the odds of getting their property back.
The group started with several businessmen comparing notes on their losses. They decided to run a classified ad under "trailers for sale" to find other victims. Goose Creek businessman Doug Curry has a list of about 15 people, representing a total loss of about $63,000. That includes the $13,000 trailer stolen in October 2005 from Curry's business, DVS Inc., on St. James Avenue.
While still in the early stages, the group has come up with several ideas:
--Require vehicle identification numbers on trailers.
--Require state registration and possibly tags.
--Expand the pawnshop transaction database statewide.
While even police say it's almost impossible to protect a piece of property that someone is intent on stealing, there are measures than can be taken to make trailers easier to track.
Requiring titles on trailers is a good place to start, Berkeley County Sheriff's Detective Bob Shuler said. He investigates property crimes from Summerville to Moncks Corner and said it's rare that trailer owners can provide any kind of identification number for the property. A lot of trailers look identical, which makes them more difficult to identify.
Requiring titles would also make it harder for thieves to pawn trailers, Berkeley County Sheriff's Capt. Rick Ollic said.
Feelings are mixed about requiring trailers to have license plates because of the property tax attached.
Some state representatives said they aren't sure requiring registration is the solution.
David Umphlett, a Republican from Moncks Corner, said the idea came up last year, but legislation was never introduced. Tags can be taken off and serial numbers can be etched out or removed with a welding torch, Umphlett said. People are also tired of being taxed, he said.
Goose Creek Republican Shirley Hinson said she doubts registration would be effective.
"Guns are registered and very few are ever returned to the owners," she said.
Umphlett was more positive about requiring pawnshop owners to provide information to police. He said he has friends in Moncks Corner whose stolen trailers turned up at a pawnshop less than a month later.
Shuler said most pawnshops voluntarily provide transaction reports to law enforcement, but they aren't required to do so. Agencies can access the reports on computer but get information only from pawnshops in this area.
Curry said he hopes the loose-knit group that has formed will give a voice to the frustration of theft victims and force change. Owners are meanwhile doing what they can to make it more difficult for thieves to haul off their property and to get their trailers back.
Curry installed a locking gate to the driveway of his business. Other owners block in the trailers with cars, although the thieves who stole Curry's trailer first moved a smaller one out of the way.
The Internet is a popular tool. Charles Fields of North Charleston has posted photos and information on a drag-way site to try to find the trailer and dragster truck stolen in February from his son's house in Berkeley County.
"They call it a nonviolent crime. It was quite violent for me. I lost $35,000 with no insurance," Fields said.
Roberts also posted his stolen trailer on the Internet, but it turned out his property hadn't gone far. He found it at the Coastal Carolina Flea Market in Ladson, where he has a weekend stand. The trailer was loaded with fruit for sale and was in the possession of some guys who had a handwritten receipt showing they paid $500 for the $3,500 trailer. The seller's name, address and phone number were false.
Tips for trailer owners
*Park trailers where they aren't visible to passersby
*Use tongue locks
*Limit access by blocking trailers with vehicles
*Remove a tire
*Get a title if the trailer has a serial number
*Install removable hitches
*Mark the trailer, but do not use a Social Security number
Reach Nita Birmingham at 745-5858 or birmingham@postandcourier.com.