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Sunday, May 28, 2017

2 arrested, tied to series of truck tailgate thefts

WASHINGTON — More than a dozen tailgates have disappeared from Ford Super Duty pickup trucks in the Frederick area since February and Monday officials announced two arrests in the case.

Brandon L. Blucher, 22, of Glenwood, Maryland, and Riley A. Eppley of Monrovia, Maryland, are accused of stealing and then selling the tailgates to a buyer in Cambridge, Maryland.

Eppley and Blucher each faces multiple charges including conspiracy to commit theft of $10,000 to $100,000 and 12 counts of theft over $1,000.

Tailgates were also reported stolen in Howard and Dorchester counties. Thirteen were reported stolen from newer Super Duty pickups in Frederick County.

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15 comments:

Anonymous said...

i'm just curious but what is the market for a stolen tailgate? surely it can't be for just scrap metal.

Anonymous said...

Crime doesn't pay EVER. Why? GREED!

Anonymous said...

Check with the ones that have custom trucks that get spray art on them then switch them around just saying been around a few that have stole for this purpose

Anonymous said...

4:36 no they aren't for scrap, tailgates on trucks catch hell as things are slammed down on them constantly and they eventually become so bent and warped out of shape they become almost impossible to open and close and there is no such thing as straightening one out, it has to be replaced. Not sure of the cost but i'm sure they ain't cheap.

Anonymous said...

depending on the style package they're selling for $1800 to $2800, on the secondary market. possibly even more if they're "mint", off a brand new truck.

Anonymous said...

replacements sell for $2K or more.

Anonymous said...

New ones have cameras in them. It's getting them to work on a truck they didn't come on

Anonymous said...

5:11
Where have you been the last 20 years? If your tailgate gets used, good for you. Trucks today are cleaner than the board of health and used to cruise the streets or a family vehicle to run groceries. It is considered abuse if a bag of trash were to be thrown in the bed.

Anonymous said...

The thieves are named but the thief buyer is not. Why? He's as big of a crook as the two that stole them.

Anonymous said...

I've been told by people at the Ford Dealership that you better be locking your tailgates because people are stealing them to resell.

They caught a bunch of people driving through the Ford Dealership and stealing many new tailgates for resale to body shops, etc. They were busted by video.

Anonymous said...

1:04 exactly, he knew they were hot.

Unknown said...
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Anonymous said...

Mine was one of the thirteen that was stolen. These a**holes came on to my property, right onto my driveway at night and stole my tailgate. I'm also wondering why they haven't named the person in Dorchester.... I want my effing tailgate back

Anonymous said...

My son is Riley Eppley.And I am truley sorry.His father taught him this trade.after all he was stealing copper for years from free state electric where he has worked for over thirty years.He would have his children skin it then he'd pay then some money.this is the kind of things that can make a bad in pact on a child's life.I'm not making excuses but it all starts at the home.