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Kingsport Police Department
200 Shelby Street • Kingsport, TN 37660 ThomasMPatton • 423-229-9433 (Desk) • 423-224-2786 (FAX) |
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| NEWS RELEASE | |||
| SUBJECT: | Kingsport Police Investigating Rash of Utility Trailer and Riding Lawnmower Thefts | ||
| DATE: | January 30, 2017 | ||
| CASE #: | 17-001643 (Tractor Supply)
17-001691 (EZ Rental) 17-001778 (Private Residence) 17-001901 (GCR Tires) 17-002234 (Lowe’s) |
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| GENERAL NARRATIVE | |||
| The Kingsport Police Department is investigating a rash of utility trailer and riding lawnmower thefts that have occurred over the past week. Detectives are looking into the high probability that some or all of these incidents may involve the same suspect or group of suspects. Several of the incidents reported thus far are detailed below:
On January 23, 2017 at approximately 3:30 PM, a 5×8 foot mesh bottom utility trailer ($700 value) was stolen from Tractor Supply, located at 2206 Minnich Trail. The unidentified suspect was a white male, and he was driving an older model (late 1980s to early 1990s) faded blue Chevrolet Blazer sport utility vehicle. The vehicle had “Chevrolet” printed in gold letters across the rear hatch/tailgate area. During the overnight hours of January 23-24, 2017, a Craftsman riding lawnmower (over $1,000 value) was stolen from EZ Rental, located at 1420 East Stone Drive. During the overnight hours of January 24-25, 2017, a 5×8 foot utility trailer ($1,100 value) was stolen from a private residence in the 1200 block of Valleydale Drive. During the overnight hours of January 25-26, 2017, a tandem-axle 4-wheeled utility trailer (over $2,200 value) was stolen from GCR Tires, located at 1551 South Wilcox Drive. On January 28, 2017 at approximately 8:30 PM, a Troy-Bilt riding lawnmower ($1,000 value) was stolen from Lowe’s, located at 2324 West Stone Drive. Two unidentified white male suspects arrived in a dark-colored pickup truck pulling a utility trailer. They loaded the lawnmower onto the trailer and fled the scene. The suspect vehicle in the Lowe’s incident was captured on surveillance video, with a photo taken from that footage included in this release. Anyone who recognizes this vehicle or who may have any information regarding any of the aforementioned incidents is asked to contact Detectives in the K.P.D. Criminal Investigations Division at 423-229-9429 or call Kingsport Central Dispatch at 423-246-9111. Alternatively, if an individual who is able to supply information related to this or any other case wishes not to be identified, tips can be submitted anonymously via online “Citizen Feedback” forms available at the following link: https://www.kingsporttn.gov/city-services/police-department/contact-us One final important note: In some of these incidents, the property owner had taken at least minimal steps to secure the property that was stolen, but that security measure was easily defeated. In other cases, the property that was stolen had been left completed unsecured. All property owners, whether they be a business or a private citizen, are encouraged to make themselves aware that thefts of this nature do occur from time to time, and they are strongly urged to secure easily portable property at the highest practical level. |
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| RELEASING OFFICER | ||
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Thomas M. Patton, Public Information Officer
Kingsport Police Department Professional Standards Unit |
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