Suspect Arrested After Leaving Stolen Construction Trailer Near Courthouse
ROSEVILLE, Minn. (WCCO) -- A construction trailer filled with expensive tools is now back with its rightful owner. The trailer was stolen from a construction site in Roseville.
As it turns out, authorities said the thief took the stolen trailer with him when he went to a court hearing in Washington County. Lt. Lorne Rosand is with the Roseville Police Department.
"If you are going out into the community and do anything like respond to a court case, you wouldn't want to tow along your stolen trailer," Lt. Rosand said.
That trailer was packed with at least $20,000 worth of carpentry tools. It was taken from a remodeling project along County Road C in Roseville, sometime between Sunday and Monday morning.
Jeff Curtis is the owner of J&J Construction and the owner of the stolen trailer.
"It hauled all my tools, fasteners, anything I would need for the job site. Basically everything I own for my business," Curtis said.
He says it was all locked up when he left on Sunday.
"You hear of trailers being broke into, I tried to do the best I could to prevent that from happening. Because I am the owner of the company and I needed the trailer here on site so the guys have tools," he said.
Tuesday morning, police told Jeff they had found his trailer in Oak Park Heights, in a secluded cul-de-sac, about two blocks from the Washington County Courthouse. It was attached to a Ford Explorer.
Police say it appears the man who owns the vehicle, had driven it there because he had to make a court appearance on Monday.
"I would think that you'd want to separate yourself from the stolen property if you are going to go out into the community," Lt. Rosand said.
Even though police found all of Jeff's tools in the trailer, he is still at a loss. He bought about $7,000 worth of replacement saws and drills so that he could continue working on the construction project.
Oak Park Heights police say when they went to find the suspect, he was already in jail. Once he made his court appearance, he was taken into custody because there was a warrant out for his arrest from Goodhue County.
The chief says the suspect is a man they've dealt with before, but did not identify him. He says he's refusing to answer questions from investigators about the trailer.