Trailer Theft Ring Busted

By Debbie Williams Reporter

Escambia County investigators say they have broken up an organized crime ring. Trailer Theft Ring Busted

Published: Tue, May 20, 2008 - 4:44 pm Last Updated: Tue, May 20, 2008 - 5:45 pm

Debbie Williams

A year long investigation is over and Escambia County Sheriff's investigators say they have broken up a two county organized crime ring that targeted trailers.
Michael Johnston is accused of stealing trailers from Pensacola and selling them in Baldwin County.
Pensacola businessman Arthur Searcy has been asked to come to this house on Roanne Lane by sheriff's investigators.
"Over the weekend somebody stole a utility trailer from my office building I had locked up," says Searcy.
It's a growing trend in Escambia County and investigators think they know who is responsible for a lot of it.
This is Michael Johnston's house. They say he is responsible for stealing as many as thirty trailers in the Pensacola area, repainting them, changing their identification numbers and selling them.
According to investigators, if Johnston could see a trailer it was at risk of being stolen. He would come back at night, cut through any locks he had to, pull his truck up and drive away.
Shortly after deputies arrive, so does Johnston and he is quickly taken into custody. Investigator Johnny Wilson is convinced he is responsible.
"I believe he's manufacturing, revinning and painting them for a living and making a good profit off of it," says Wilson.
As for Searcy, the trailer deputies found in the backyard, isn't his. But he's not surprised something like this is happening. "That's quite interesting but I don't doubt it thieves are thieves," he says.
Deputies have recovered some of the trailers and are aksing anyone who has dealt with Johnston to give them a call at 850-436-9649.