Rash of ATV Thefts Hits Lindale Area

LINDALE � An increase in ATV thefts has the Lindale area on high alert. Local law enforcement tells KETK they�re easy to steal and even easier to sell. That�s because ATVs and four-wheelers aren�t required to be titled by the state. Once the items are stolen, thieves cash in on their goods with a re-sell, without having to prove that they were the original owners. If you buy used from anyone, be aware of the risks involved. Constable Kenneth Bibby says, �If you are stopped towing a trailer, for example, on a public highway, law enforcement has the ability to check that VIN (vehicle identification number) to see if it�s stolen � and you could be a victim and not realize it.� Bibby added that if you get caught with an ATV with the VIN scratched off, or it looks as if someone has tried to remove it, law enforcement can take it, no questions asked.