The Johnson County Sheriff’s Office is searching for a red 1997 GMC Yukon and the firefighting equipment inside that was stolen from a driveway in Trafalgar on Tuesday morning.
The SUV was taken between 7:15 and 9 a.m. from the driveway at 2488 W. County Road 750S, about three miles south of Indian Creek High School, according to the police report.
The owner of the SUV is a firefighter at Trafalgar Fire Department and bought the truck from the department, Trafalgar Fire Chief Tom Tharpe said. The SUV was no longer being used by the department and had all of its markings and equipment removed, except for lights in the front grill, which were no longer connected, Tharpe said.
The owner’s radio and firefighting gear were in the SUV when it was stolen, according to the police report.
This the second vehicle this month that has been stolen from a driveway, Johnson County Sheriff Doug Cox said. It is unclear whether the vehicle was running or if the keys were just inside.
Regardless, the sheriff urges residents to lock their vehicles and not leave them unattended and unlocked while warming.
“We need people to stop warming up their cars with the doors unlocked. I know methods like remote starters cost money, but they’ll keep your doors locked while the car warms up,” Cox said.
Johnson County residents are asked to look for the stolen vehicle and call 911 if they spot it, Cox said.
“People need to not be afraid to call us. If they’re behind the vehicle, they need to make no effort to try and detain it or slow it down, but call us,” Cox said. “If residents give us a plate number, that can determine whether the SUV is the one we’re searching for.”
Residents can call 911 if they see the SUV on the road, or the non-emergency line, 317-736-9155, if they find the vehicle parked, Cox said.
