If you see our stolen casita, please call the police

[sakepts]

Our casita got stolen in Feb.2014 in a storage we rented in Carrollton, texas.
We loved it and invested a lots of upgrades to her, such as weight distribution, high lifted, temperature control system... It was our precious baby. I had been sick for wks, coz I was too sad.
If you see it or any suspension casita, please do call the police (police has the report, and will take care of it).
Policy report #2014-1322

There is some minor damage of the outside of the door right under the door handle with some white paint to cover it. Very obvious.
The last 6 digitals of vehicle id is 213386 (full ID see photo). License plate is 5LJ296 (but this may be replace or take off by the thief/thieves). Year of 2009.
Your help is highly appreciated.


Ashley wang

[sakepts]

I'm adding one more pic here.
We knew that it is small chance that we can find her back, but we have to try everything we can.
Thank you, all.

[Pam Garlow]

Oh, how sickening. I'm sorry that your Casita was stolen.

[sakepts]

If you call the police, please let them know the Policy report #2014-1322 to look at.

[Bob Miller]

OK, Now how about the name of the department where is was reported and their phone number. I can assure you the most local P.D.'s won't be able to cross reference that report number.

BTW: Did it have a license plate? Do you know the number?

[Bob Miller]

BTW: Most readers don't go back and look for edits to the original post.

[kb1flr]

That is terrible news, Ashley. It is unlikely to show up in New England, but we will keep an eye out.

Rick and Jessica

[Bob Miller]

Don't rule out where it might show up for sale.

Years ago, in VA, I bought an Airstream Bambi that had Alabama plates and title. Turned out that: a) it had been stolen from a storage lot in VA, b) It had never been in Alabama, c) the entire re-registration process was done by a cousin living in AL. and d) Thanks to help from the Wally Bynum Airstream club we found out who it belonged to, got the perp arrested, got my money back, and the trailer went back to it's owner.

The victim should also post this on the Casita group and anywhere used FGRV's are being sold.

[Roy in TO]

Sad to hear about your loss.

More pictures and descriptions might help. Do you have any that show the damage on the door? What colour is the interior? What model and layout is it?

[Bob Miller]

Also add in the complete VIN. PD's can't do a stolen vehicle trace on a partial VIN number, they need all 17 digits.

[Carol H]

Ashley, so sorry to hear! Posting interior photos would help a lot for people to be able to tell if they are looking at your trailer or not. Assuming it has some personalized features in the interior - not straight stock out of the show room.

[reetired]

Does the storage facility have a security video? When did you last see it ie put it in storage? (Which provides a time frame)

The Agency who took the report will enter the VIN # into SVS. ( Stolen vehicle system)

That is a bummer. Best wishes.

[Carol H]

As it is with stolen cars VIN numbers are usually the first thing to be changed.

The Casita VIN due to the way Casita engraves them (see photo posted) would not be hard to change a number or two. May not be possible to positively ID the trailer using only its VIN.

[reetired]

Originally Posted by Carol H

As it is with stolen cars VIN numbers are usually the first thing to be changed.

The Casita VIN due to the way Casita engraves them (see photo posted) would not be hard to change a number or two. May not be possible to positively ID the trailer using only its VIN.

But with cars....vin # are all over the place...some not made public. Hopefully Casita does that too. It actually looks like the number is handwritten in the pic! Yikes!!!

[reetired]

Sadly some trailers are stolen and kept for personal use on private property or in the boonies. Others are used for "meth"labs...depending on the area.

It sure wouldn't hurt to etch some type of identifiable marking in a discreet place.

It would be hard to sell w/o title.

[Bob Miller]

RE: VIN.... But still, if someone sees what they "Think" is the stolen Casita, they will need the VIN number that was reported stolen before any local P.D. will take an interest. I wouldn't count on a department in New Jersey, Montana, Ohio or any other state to take an interest without finding it in the national stolen vehicles registry first. And calling the Carrollton, TX P.D. with a report number, feget it.

A less then honest buyer could buy it cheap and hang a plate off of another trailer on it and never register it. In CA, if it's a 13', one could get a permanent plate off of a $150 water damaged tent trailer for that matter. $10 every 5 years and who would ever know?????

But, because of a VIN, a VW Beetle that was stolen 35 years ago was recently recovered, but now they can't find the original owner.

[Carol H]

Originally Posted by reetired

But with cars....vin # are all over the place...some not made public. Hopefully Casita does that too. It actually looks like the number is handwritten in the pic! Yikes!!!

Yes its true regarding cars but the pros know how to deal with it and the average buyer more often than not only look at the plate on the front dash & discover they have a problem only when they go to register the car.

With most trailers besides a plate such as what Casita has the only other place you may find the VIN permanently engraved on the trailer is on the tongue - but again if one has stamps they could easily change a letter or number. Heck one or two people here have done that themselves in an attempt to get their new to them trailers registered when the sellers paper work doesnt match up or is missing the VIN from the tongue! Or a thief could simple hide the tongue VIN by putting layers of paint over it so its not readable... we have had lots of folks here ask here to find the VIN on their trailers in order to register it AFTER they have made the purchase and towed the trailer home

[Bob Miller]

It's not easy to just "change" a 17 digit VIN number. There is actually an imbedded "check-Sum" code in the number that is used to prove that all of the others belong together. Here's an explanation:
Vehicle identification number - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Go here and enter your vehicles VIN, it's free, then go back and change any one number or letter in the string. There is better than a 90% chance that it will come up as invalid.
AutoCheck Vehicle History Reports Homepage - A Part of Experian.

On older trailers you can get away with inventing mfgs. serial numbers, but faking a 17 digit VIN is a lot more difficult. It's easier to get fake paperwork, sell it on the street, and disappear. That's all to common with many Craigslist ads for popular vehicles and trailers.

BTW: I talked with the guy in L.A., who was at the Palm Springs vintage trailer show two weeks ago, he never recovered either of his Eggs that were stolen.

I do hope that the OP had theft insurance on their Casita. Most storage lots either charge extra for insurance or have you sign a waiver.

[David Clinkenbeard]

Sorry for you loss Ashley. It's going to be hard to spot in Texas where Casitas rule. Keep your eye open in Craig's list and other listings for Casita parts and used Casitas. Who said crooks are smart. You just never know when it might turn up somewhere. Texas is kinda loose with vehicle registrations in some counties.
Never let your guard down thinking a thief won't take your trailer, boat, or vehicle from your house, workplace, secured storage, or a campground. At least make it difficult with good hitch locks, chains through the axles, or alarm systems. I knew someone who applied numbers on the roof of their RV that could be spotted from the air.

[Carol H]

Originally Posted by Bob Miller

It's not easy to just "change" a 17 digit VIN number. There is actually an imbedded "check-Sum" code in the number that is used to prove that all of the others belong together. Here's an explanation:
Vehicle identification number - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Your assuming Bob that most buyers will check the vin to see if the Check Sum code adds up?

As I mentioned by the number of times people post here asking where they can even find the VIN on their new to them trailer I am going to suggests its the rare buyer that will

By the time the new owner of the trailer figures out that they have purchased a trailer with a forged VIN on it you can be sure the phone number & email of the seller is no longer in service and the party who's house they sold it out of will say they were just a casual friend who's last name they don't even known and that they left and they don't have a contact info for them.