Thieves Take Off With Contractor’s Work Trailers Twice Within Days

Warning: Undefined array key -1 in /nas/content/live/ksltvstage/wp-content/themes/bonneville-news-theme/functions.php on line 598

Deprecated: strpos(): Passing null to parameter #1 ($haystack) of type string is deprecated in /nas/content/live/ksltvstage/wp-content/themes/bonneville-news-theme/functions.php on line 598

Warning: Undefined variable $total_characters in /nas/content/live/ksltvstage/wp-content/themes/bonneville-news-theme/functions.php on line 599

Warning: Undefined array key 22 in /nas/content/live/ksltvstage/wp-content/themes/bonneville-news-theme/functions.php on line 597

Deprecated: strpos(): Passing null to parameter #1 ($haystack) of type string is deprecated in /nas/content/live/ksltvstage/wp-content/themes/bonneville-news-theme/functions.php on line 597

OGDEN, Utah – A contractor in northern Utah is out of work after his trailer full of tools was stolen in Ogden and then again in South Ogden.

“Yeah, it’s been rough. Real rough,” said Steve Nielson, a contractor who has run his own rain gutter business for years.

“I’ve been doing rain gutters since I was 22. I’m 66 now,” he said. “And I’ve never had a problem leaving my trailer on the job.”

Now, for the first time in his career, he has no rain gutters to keep him going.

“I’m living off the grid. I can’t afford rent,” he said.

It’s been a rough few months for a contractor in Ogden. His rain gutter company is out of business after his trailer and all his tools were stolen not once — but twice!

We’ll have his story tonight on @KSL5TV

We’re on at 9:30 because of the #olympics pic.twitter.com/oSlM4Q742u

— Matt Rascon KSL (@MattRasconKSL) July 30, 2021

It started with a job in Ogden in March. Nielson parked his trailer full of his tools at the site, knowing he’d be coming and going. It’s something he said, “I’ve done it my whole life, you know. If it’s over a day job, leave it overnight. It’s just easier.”

But on this job, he returned to find the trailer missing.

“I thought it was a good neighborhood,” he said.

Nielson said replacing the gutter machine alone will cost around $10,000. And without his trailer and tools, he can’t work. But Nielson picked himself up. He took out his savings and bought another trailer and all the tools he needed to keep going.

“Just an honest guy trying to make a living.”

His next job was nearby in April. This time, he parked his new trailer at his ex-wife’s home in South Ogden, about a mile away from the first incident. And he made sure to lock it up.

“Oh yeah, lock on both doors and the hitch and that didn’t stop it,” he said. “Whole thing! Trailer, everything, ladders, everything. Again.”

He returned in the morning to find his trailer and all his tools missing again. And now he was really at a loss.

“Like I’ve been violated bad. Just, everything taken from me like that. Just feel, it makes me sick,” he said.

Now with no savings, no gutters and the rain pouring, Nielson is looking for work, which he said is hard at his age and hoping he can find a way to get back up again.

“Pick yourself up and start all over again; already done it, trying to do it again.”

Ogden police confirmed Nielson has filed police reports in Ogden and South Ogden, but he said there are no leads.