‘Totally devastated’: Trucks, trailers and ATVs stolen from Pleasant Grove neighborhood

PLEASANT GROVE, Utah — Residents of a Utah County neighborhood that was targeted by car thieves last weekend are warning others to be on the lookout.

“We feel violated,” said Stacie Hullinger, whose Tahoe SUV was stolen. “Insurance won’t cover it. It was a theft, so insurance doesn’t cover it. So we are just out.”

The neighborhood said security camera footage shows the thefts happening during a 20-minute timespan, starting at approximately 3:40 a.m. Sunday in the area of 1100 North and 860 West in Pleasant Grove.

The victims said the thieves were incredibly efficient and had obviously been casing the neighborhood.

“I want people to know that they’re out there,” Hullinger said. “That they’re good and try to protect yourself. Do what you can to protect yourself.”

In all, three houses were targeted, resulting in the loss of two vehicles, two trailers and two Can-Am side-by-sides.

“I’m devastated,” said Ginni Potter, who had a Can-Am and trailer stolen from the side of her house. “I’m totally devastated.”

Surveillance video from Potter’s home shows the brand new side-by-side and trailer being towed away in the middle of the night. She said the Can-Am wasn’t even on the trailer at the time. The crooks hooked a tow rope to it and drove off.

“My son bought it the Saturday before,” Potter said. “He’s had it one week.”

Potter said the purchase totaled nearly $40,000 and they hadn’t added it to their insurance yet. She urged others with expensive off-road vehicles to make them difficult to steal.

“I would say really secure it,” she said. “Put vehicles around it. Floodlights. Get a tracker and put it on it.”

Potter has been passing out flyers throughout the neighborhood trying to find additional security camera footage. Anyone with information is urged to call police.

“We see these quite often,” said Sgt. Shawn Nielson with the Pleasant Grove Police Department.

Nielson said the thefts are usually crimes of opportunity and suggests that people secure their trailers with wheel and hitch locks.

“We’ll have people that will come into town — a lot of times at night,” he said. “They’ll drive through neighborhoods. They’ll look, and if they see something that looks inviting, they’ll take it.”