HIGHCOUNTRYMIKE
Senior Member
September 4 I was on my way home from Dutch John, Utah after catching a record 30.5 inch/15-pound Brown Trout. I was smiling all the way to Mesquite, NV. That is about halfway to Burbank, CA
I pulled into the Virgin River Casino and found a parking spot at the front door.
I went into the casino to rest and decide what I would do. 1) take a nap or 2) continue my drive home.
I walked out the front door and no Sportsmobile.......I was stunned. Was I at the wrong door.........I finally realized it was gone. I called Mesquite Police, and they sent an officer to meet with me. As he took all my info he asked if there were any distinguishing marks on the van. Yes, I said the doors are marked with Sportsmobile and 4X4 decals and the rear window has my Vietnam 1st Calvery Division patch, CIB and parachutist badge decals. That seemed to get his attention even more. The officer seemed truly concerned about my plight.
We talked at length, and he made several phone calls one of which was requesting a review if the cameras around the casino and he said they often can see the vehicle being driven away and which direction they went.
Needless to say, I was shocked and devastated by the theft.
At 10:30 I secured a room for the nigh. I was unable to sleep and at 12:30 I had a call for Mesquite PD, and they had found my van. I was connected to my case officer, and he asked where my gun was. He reported it was gone. They sent a car and took me to my van. They had used a screwdriver to enter and start the van. It was a mess; radio was gone and no electrical service to the dash. He asked if I wanted to try and start it with a screwdriver, but they had taken all my tools. So, he loaned me a flathead and BINGO it started. He asked what I wanted to do, and I said I am driving home.
A big shoutout to Mesquite NV Police Department and Officer Brent Horlacher
Tomorrow the van will begin the restoration process thanks to AAA SoCal.
HIGHCOUNTRYMIKE 2003 E350 SPORTSMOBILE 4X4 7.3 328,000
I pulled into the Virgin River Casino and found a parking spot at the front door.
I went into the casino to rest and decide what I would do. 1) take a nap or 2) continue my drive home.
I walked out the front door and no Sportsmobile.......I was stunned. Was I at the wrong door.........I finally realized it was gone. I called Mesquite Police, and they sent an officer to meet with me. As he took all my info he asked if there were any distinguishing marks on the van. Yes, I said the doors are marked with Sportsmobile and 4X4 decals and the rear window has my Vietnam 1st Calvery Division patch, CIB and parachutist badge decals. That seemed to get his attention even more. The officer seemed truly concerned about my plight.
We talked at length, and he made several phone calls one of which was requesting a review if the cameras around the casino and he said they often can see the vehicle being driven away and which direction they went.
Needless to say, I was shocked and devastated by the theft.
At 10:30 I secured a room for the nigh. I was unable to sleep and at 12:30 I had a call for Mesquite PD, and they had found my van. I was connected to my case officer, and he asked where my gun was. He reported it was gone. They sent a car and took me to my van. They had used a screwdriver to enter and start the van. It was a mess; radio was gone and no electrical service to the dash. He asked if I wanted to try and start it with a screwdriver, but they had taken all my tools. So, he loaned me a flathead and BINGO it started. He asked what I wanted to do, and I said I am driving home.
A big shoutout to Mesquite NV Police Department and Officer Brent Horlacher
Tomorrow the van will begin the restoration process thanks to AAA SoCal.
HIGHCOUNTRYMIKE 2003 E350 SPORTSMOBILE 4X4 7.3 328,000