NFL Talk Show Host Sends Message To Crooks Who Stole $5M TV Production Truck
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MIAMI GARDENS (CBSMiami) – DirecTV talk show host Rich Eisen sent a stern message to the criminals who stole a $5 million production truck that his show uses.
"You don't mess with the Rich Eisen show production unit."
Eisen told CBS4's Peter D'Oench he had some strong words for those who took the 48-foot-long television production truck from the Miami Lakes Marriott Hotel between 10 p.m. Tuesday and 6 a.m. Wednesday.
That truck was recovered around 8 p.m. Wednesday night in Northwest Miami-Dade with its cab missing, said police.
"If you are out there and steal the Rich Eisen mobile production unit, you don't steal the Rich Eisen mobile production unit. You don't mess with another man's mobile production unit," said Eisen.
He told D'Oench, "We know who you are. Actually we don't know who you are. I am threatening you. Don't come near our mobile production unit ever again. You messed with the wrong show."
CLICK HERE To Watch Peter D'Oench's Report
Eisen's three-hour noon show was broadcast from Sun Life Stadium where the Miami Dolphins are going to play the Buffalo Bills on Thursday night.
Eisen is also a commentator for the NFL network, which along with WFOR-TV and CBS was going to broadcast the game.
Since the mobile production truck was stolen and the cab was missing, DirecTV was using a backup trailer for Eisen's broadcast.
Technical manager Mike Zukowski said, "This is the local Miami Heat truck used for home games."
Eisen opened his show speaking about the theft of the TV production truck, telling a nationwide audience, "You have no idea how much people are talking about our truck. We were on page 3B of the Miami Herald."
Eisen held up the newspaper story about the incident.
"The Pacific was found abandoned next to some railroad tracks last night," he said.
Eisen said he is still piecing together how this could have even happened and the buzz surrounding it.
"I'm surprised that in this world where we're landing a craft on the tail of a comet and Kim Kardashian's tail was revealed that a truck getting stolen would get this much attention. I'm stunned at how many people have paid attention to this whole thing and can't believe that it happened in the first place. It is a shock to me.
"It is gratifying that the truck was recovered, for those who pay for the truck and for somebody like me who needs the truck to do my job. I'm thrilled that it was recovered.
"Why in the world would somebody stroll up to a 48-foot-long, 18-wheel truck worth $5 million and think that's something I can go with? I don't know what happened here but I drive on four wheels. In all honesty, I want to thank the Miami-Dade Police Department for their work," Eisen said.
But Eisen knows how to laugh off the situation.
"I've never had a mobile unit stolen 24 hours before a show," he said. "I guess you can scratch that off my bucket list for now."
Zukowski said that he too was gratified that the truck had been recovered.
"This truck follows us around and we are glad to get it back. It's kind of a shock that it was stolen in the first place. The truck driver who discovered the theft actually called the other employees to see if they were playing a joke on him.
"I think the criminals didn't realize they had a treasure chest so they dropped it and abandoned it by some railroad tracks," he said.
Mike Werteen, the Co-President of the U.S. Mobile Units group, said in a telephone interview with CBS4, "We're thrilled to have our baby back. We have 52 trucks that travel around the country doing sports and entertainment shows. We value each one of them. We appreciate Miami-Dade Police and their work."
A spokeswoman for NEP – the truck's owner – said the recovered truck was being taken back to Pittsburgh, Pa.
There is no word from Miami-Dade Police as to whether they have any suspects or surveillance tape of them. They have not said where the truck was recovered.
If you can help, call Miami-Dade Police or Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at (305) 471-TIPS (8477).
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