Thieves Steal Rotary Club of Walnut Valley's Trailer

When the Rotary Club of Walnut Valley recently had its trailer stolen, the group lost something that can’t be easily replaced – documents and other memorabilia charting its 20-year history.

The trailer contained the club’s original bylaws and budget, 150 flags collected by visiting Rotary groups all over the world, and certificates recognizing the organization for its charitable efforts, said charter member Bill Longacre.

Thieves nabbed the trailer Saturday morning from the driveway of Longacre’s Diamond Bar home.

The club raised $3,000 to buy the trailer two months ago. Longacre said he had the trailer under lock and key in the driveway.  The retired Los Angeles police detective said he suspects the thieves first came by and cut the locks off using bolt cutters and then returned a little later to coast it out of the driver and tow it away.

Longacre said he came out of his house to a “big void in my driveway.”

Although getting the trailer back is not likely, that is not the main concern, he said.

“That’s replaceable property and we can absorb that really easy,” he said. “It’s the irreplaceable memorabilia, our entire history.”

Longacre said a member is offering a personal reward, independent of the club, of $100 for the return of any of the memorabilia.  The items can be returned anonymously.