Fla. pilot spots theft at his own home while flying

By: Crimesider Staff
Topics: Daily Blotter

AFP/Getty Images

(CBS/AP) LABELLE, Fla. - Authorities say a Florida man flying home from North Carolina caught a man stealing a trailer while piloting his plane over his own home.

The News-Press reports that David Zehntner was flying over his home in LaBelle Sunday when he saw a truck in his driveway. He lowered his altitude to get a closer look and saw a man attaching Zehntner's trailer to the truck.

Zehntner followed the truck and called the Glades County Sheriff's Office from the air. Glades deputies contacted the Lee County Sheriff's Office, which found the truck as it headed into Charlotte County.

Gary Haines, 59, of Virginia, was arrested and charged with grand theft. He was released Monday from the Charlotte County Jail on $2,500 bond. It's not clear whether he's retained an attorney.

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by silvereagle2718 January 2, 2013 7:26 AM EST: The thief was identified and the trailer was recovered. The bond and other decisions of the court are irrelevant. It would be interesting to see if the cost of tracking the theft can be recovered from the thief. I'm not holding my breath.

For the pilot, it was probably a feel good experience. But keeping the airplane in the air to identify and track the thief was not cheap. The pilot was simply very lucky if it was an expensive trailer.

Aircraft controllers in the area probably got a real kick out of it as well.

Headed north. In the direction of the Sandy disaster, but it is unclear if the incidents are related. It probably takes an expensive truck to tow an expensive trailer.; Reply to this comment


by ProfPaulNugent January 1, 2013 4:12 PM EST: Love to hear true stories of justice at work.; Reply to this comment


by fleabag75 January 1, 2013 3:34 PM EST: That's one way to get the scum to leave your area. Arrest them, release them on a light bond, you'll never see them again.; Reply to this comment