Having your truck’s tailgate stolen is bad enough. Finding it for sale on Facebook Marketplace is the sort of thing that can make scrolling through listings more interesting.
On Aug. 14, deputies with Constable Mark Herman’s office responded to the area of 9915 FM 1960 Road West in northwest Houston after a tailgate was reported stolen. The victim later spotted a Marketplace listing for a tailgate that looked suspiciously familiar.
The owner of the tailgate recognized it as his stolen property and arranged to meet the seller. This time, however, the buyer wasn’t arriving alone.
The Seller Had a Few More Problems Than a Stolen Tailgate
According to the constable’s office, deputies showed up for the planned meeting and identified the seller as Carl Thomas. Investigators determined Thomas was already wanted on several warrants, including allegations involving probation violation, organized criminal activity, and bail jumping, along with six Class C misdemeanor warrants.
Thomas allegedly tried to run when deputies moved in. Deputies said they deployed a Taser and took him into custody. A second man at the scene was also detained and identified as Cornelius Hawkins.
The Search Found More Than a Marketplace Listing
The investigation didn’t end with the tailgate that brought everyone to the meeting. After obtaining a search warrant, deputies searched the location and, according to the constable’s office, recovered eight stolen tailgates in total. One was the tailgate belonging to the original victim, while seven additional tailgates were also recovered.
That turned what initially looked like a single stolen-part case into a much larger investigation. Tailgates have become surprisingly attractive targets for thieves because they’re valuable, relatively easy to remove from many pickups, and can be resold separately from the truck they came from.
KPRC reported in that case that deputies eventually recovered eight stolen truck tailgates and linked the suspect to more than 20 alleged tailgate thefts across Harris County.
Facebook Users Had Some Thoughts About the Tailgate Business
The Facebook comments quickly moved beyond the basic question of where all those tailgates came from. One commenter wondered whether thieves had really started stealing damaged tailgates, while another joked that tailgate theft must be the newest criminal career path. Someone else summed up the entire situation with three words: “Theft? You don’t say.”
Others took a more practical approach. Several commenters discussed ways truck owners could make their tailgates harder to remove, including using hose clamps and other hardware to make a thief’s job considerably more annoying.
That may be the most useful part of the comment section. Tailgates are being targeted because many can be removed relatively quickly, making them attractive targets for thieves who can then sell them separately.
The Best Deal Wasn’t the Tailgate
Facebook Marketplace is generally supposed to connect people who have something with people who want it. In this case, the person looking for his missing property found it, arranged a meeting with the seller, and apparently brought law enforcement along for the pickup. The suspects are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
Still, there is something particularly inefficient about stealing someone’s tailgate, putting it on Facebook Marketplace, and then arranging to meet the person it allegedly belonged to in the first place.
At least the seller found a buyer. Just not the one they were looking for.