Nicolas and Rochelle Craig stood near a rented white Ford pickup truck Tuesday night in the parking lot of Harrah’s Casino and Hotel—near the parking spot they left their red 2005 Ford F-350 just 24 hours before.
The Craigs stopped in Council Bluffs for the night Monday during a cross country trip from Virginia Beach to Spokane, WA. Rochelle’s blue Jeep sat in tow on a rented U-Haul trailer, while a black motorcycle was secured in the truck bed. When they awoke Monday morning, everything was gone.
“It was obvious both in the Jeep and truck, that we had lots of belongings--especially inside the Jeep. It wouldn’t have taken much to realize [we] have valuable things,” said Nicolas Craig, who was moving back to Washington after his military service ended. “[I was] walking out here in the morning aimlessly in the parking lot and I just knew it was gone.”
The couple said casino security cameras did not catch the thief. By afternoon, Omaha police recovered Rochelle’s Jeep and the stolen trailer near the Missouri River in Hummel Park.
“It seems like they just ditched it,” said Nicolas. “So, we're just waiting until they get done with their investigation and taken finger prints for us to go see the damage and what's missing.”
The truck and motorcycle were not recovered Tuesday night. The couple pleaded for their possessions, focusing on items inside the vehicles that belonged to Rochelle Craig’s late grandmother.
“Her jewelry, Christmas decorations, wine glasses were in there,” she said. “It’s really special stuff that I can't get again.”
“Come and ditch [the stuff] in the parking lot, I won't even be mad,” said Nicolas Craig. “I don't care. Keep the truck; just give us our stuff somewhere.”
If you have any information, Council Bluffs Police Department at 712-328-STOP.
