ROY, Wash. — A Tacoma business owner had his box truck stolen twice in just a few days.
Ron Baker said his truck was stolen from his property last Friday night and police found it on Roy's property on Monday. Baker got permission to leave his truck at a local gas station, and when he went to pick it up Tuesday morning…it was gone again.
“That feeling you don't want to feel. It's gone again,” Baker said. “I'm waiting for you to wake up. It's like a bad dream.”
“May was my kickoff season. I was the one who organized the track,” Baker said.
He says he still can't realize that something like this has happened again. Baker was planning to get into the gutter business, and his launch date was in May.
Baker said when officers found the truck on Monday, all the tools inside were gone and the inside had been torn to shreds.
“They were everything from the catalytic converter to all my tools to the ladder to the stereo,” Baker said.
The Pierce County Sheriff's Office arrested the man who was inside the truck when it was discovered. A spokesperson said it's not as strange as one might think for the same vehicle to be stolen multiple times in a week.
“And someone could have their car stolen in quick succession. Even though the box truck is probably new, we always recommend having your car towed on the same day.” Darren Moss Jr. said.
The Pierce County Sheriff's Office is investigating the theft along with Roy Police. While this has been a very difficult situation for Mr Baker and his family, he says the support from his friends, family and community has been tremendous.
“I felt relieved that this wasn’t the end of the world and that there would be another day,” Baker said.
A GoFundMe has been set up to help Baker purchase new tools and equipment.