GEORGIA COMPUTERS STOLENThe Rockmart JournalAragon police seize suspected stolen property


07/13/05
By LOWELL VICKERS
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Aragon Police Chief Wayne Sanders shows some of the suspected stolen property seized Saturday.
Aragon police seized a trailer Saturday containing tools and other property with an estimated worth of more than $25,000.

Police investigated a tip of a stolen trailer at 179 Portland Road, Aragon, around 11 p.m. July 8. Aragon Police Chief Wayne Sanders said officers confirmed that a small open trailer, of the type used to haul riding lawnmowers, was one that had been reported stolen.

Randy C. Carter, 40, of 179 Portland Road, was arrested and charged with theft by receiving stolen property, Sanders said.

Police also noticed several four-wheel off-road vehicles, a large cargo trailer and other property on the site. Suspected some of the property could be stolen, Sanders said police obtained a search warrant and returned to the property the next day.

Carter had been released on bond in the meantime and was at the residence when police returned, Sanders said. However, most of the property had been moved.

The big trailer was still there, and was subject to the search warrant. Sanders said Carter reportedly told police he had a bill of sale for the trailer. Carter stepped inside his home, then slipped out the back door and fled the scene in his vehicle, Sanders said.

Carter is sought by police on additional charges of possession of stolen property and obstruction, Sanders said. Carter has apparently not returned to his home and his location had still not been determined Wednesday.

Sanders said after Carter fled, police searched his residence and the trailer. He said the trailer was stuffed full of hand tools, stored in tool cabinets, two computers, a big-screen television, a generator, air compressor, plus a variety of other tools and other property.

Sanders said police believe the property is stolen, possibly from a garage. But they have yet to identify the owner. Police detectives from Cartersville and Rome agencies came over to look at the property, but as of Wednesday officials still didn’t know where it came from.

The cargo trailer – a 2004 model, 24-foot, tandem-axle covered trailer used to haul cars – was verified as stolen, Sanders said. A hidden sticker provided a serial number that was traced through a statewide computer network. The trailer was traced to Woodstock, Sanders said.

A representative of the trailer’s insurer came and looked at the trailer Tuesday, Sanders said. She confirmed that the trailer was empty when stolen last year.

Sanders said the trailer has an estimated value of more than $10,000, and the replacement cost of the property found inside it is about $15,000.