HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutchinson Police Department is reporting an increase in trailer thefts within the city.

The trailers reported stolen are custom trailers that don’t have vehicle identification numbers.

Officials recommend that trailer owners place an owner applied number (OAN) somewhere on the trailer. That number will provide law enforcement with a way to determine the trailer’s rightful owner.

Frequently, officers are provided vague descriptions of trailers that make it difficult to identify them as being stolen. By placing an OAN on the trailer, this will give officers the ability to positively identify that the trailer belongs to the victim and return the property.

It’s also recommended that trailer owners take a photograph of their trailer so officers can provide an accurate description of the trailer in reports.

Finally, trailer owners should secure their property so that it’s not readily accessible to passing traffic. More often than not, thefts occur when trailers are a target of opportunity rather than a planned event.

Following these simple steps could prevent theft and also assist law enforcement with recovering property in the event it’s stolen.