Trailer theft ring busted in Graham

A trailer theft ring was uncovered in Graham this week and detectives recovered more than 12 stolen vehicles, according to the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department.

Investigators first visited the property in the 25800 block of Meridian Avenue East on Sunday after receiving a tip about stolen property being stored there.

After finding two stolen trailers, two quads and a truck, they asked the owners if they could look around the property.

The owners agreed but refused to let deputies look inside a shop, sheriff’s spokesman Ed Troyer said.

Detectives returned Thursday with a search warrant and found more stolen vehicles, including three trailers, three quads, a tractor, wheels and miscellaneous property kept in the vehicles.

Two people, both aged 34, were arrested on suspicion of possession of stolen property and trafficking stolen property. They are expected to be charged next week.

The pair is believed to have conducted surveillance during the day to find trailers and other vehicles and then returned in the early morning hours to steal them.

Troyer said they were trying to sell some of the stolen property online.

This was the first big bust for the sheriff’s 5-person Proactive Property Crimes Unit, which formed this year after Sheriff Paul Pastor pleaded with the County Council for more resources to reduce burglaries.

This story was originally published January 29, 2016 at 11:14 AM with the headline "Trailer theft ring busted in Graham."