AUBURNDALE, FL — A Polk City man is facing grand theft charges after authorities recovered a stolen travel trailer that had mysteriously disappeared from a vacant lot in Auburndale.
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office received a report on June 10 regarding a stolen 2008 Rockwood Travel Trailer. The owner told deputies he had parked the trailer at the intersection of Berkley Road and Seville Road, with a “For Sale” sign on display.
Detectives quickly identified that a work vehicle had been used to tow the trailer from the lot. The driver was later identified as Robert Laney, 54, of Polk City, who was an employee of the company that owned the truck.
When questioned, Laney denied knowledge of the trailer being stolen. He claimed he was helping an unidentified white male whose vehicle had broken down and said he had no way to contact the person.
However, Laney admitted he towed the trailer to a location right next to his own property, where it remained stored.
Unconvinced by his story, deputies arrested Laney and charged him with grand theft. He was booked into the Polk County Jail, and the investigation is ongoing.
