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John Hollenhorst Reporting A Texas family is vowing to stay in Utah even though nearly all their possessions were hijacked by what appears to be a gang of sophisticated thieves. They say they've been treated so well by everybody except the crooks, that Utah must be a good place to live.
The rented truck contained nearly everything the Dunbar family owned, moving from Texas to Utah. Now about all that's left is Larry Dunbar's motorcycle. The stuff that counts, the stuff that makes memories, is gone.
Larry Dunbar: "The photos, you know. There's baby pictures. There's old report cards, all the things that are not replaceable."
The fully loaded truck disappeared Friday from the parking lot at a Sandy hotel. The Dunbars were staying here temporarily, waiting to move into their new home in West Jordan.
Employees at Brickyard Kennels in Salt Lake City spotted the truck Saturday morning. They reported it to police Sunday after hearing about the theft.
Sabrina Cortellessa/ Brickyard Kennels: "It was probably here Friday night or early Saturday morning, because we came at eight o'clock in the morning."
Behind the emptied out truck, still on the trailer, was the Dunbar's car. The theives had broken out the windows and stolen the car's contents too. A few possessions were found near the hotel.
Sgt. Victor Quezada/ Sandy Police Dept.: "We did get some evidence from there. It is fingerprint sensitive, so that's going to our lab to be fingerprinted."
According to police and truck mechanics, the people who did this job were a bunch of pros. They were expert at a sophisticated procedure for hot-wiring the rental truck.
Brian Braithwaite/ Lake City International: "They didn't do any damage. You would have to know a little to do that."
The Dunbars initially wondered if they made a mistake moving to Utah.
Sabrina Cortellessa/Brickyard Kennels: "I feel really bad. I wish there was some way to help them out. Because that' not a good welcoming to Utah, is it?"
But by Monday the Dunbars negative thoughts vanished.
Larry Dunbar: "The groundswell of support we've received so far lets us know it's going to be a good place to live."
A rocky start for a new life, but still the right place.
If you have information about the theft, Sandy police welcome your calls at 568-7200.
