SAN ANTONIO -- A group known for helping others now needs San Antonio's help to find the crooks who stole their mini-bikes. The Shriners are a non-profit group who raise money for sick children to stay at hospitals for free. They are in San Antonio for their convention.
A member from Oklahoma who was attending the convention called police Monday after some thieves stole his truck, trailer, and two minibikes from the parking lot of the Clarion Inn and Suites off of IH-35 North near Splashtown.
The truck and trailer were found abandoned on railroad tracks off Quintana near Loop 410 early Tuesday after they had been hit by a Union Pacific train. The mini-bikes were not found.
"That's just pure meanness to park the truck on the tracks and then to have it totaled, just out of the blue," said the victim's friend and fellow Shriner Glenn Weeks. "That's just mean."
Weeks' friend came to take part in a Shriners' motor competition and parked under a light right outside his room. But the thieves were still able to steal the truck and connecting trailer, as well as the uniforms and bikes inside.
"If we can get these scooters back...1982, 1983. They don't make them anymore," explained Shriner John Vaughn. "It's hard to find. And they're in mint condition."
Police are working with the hotel staff to see if any of their surveillance videos captured images that might help catch the thieves.
If you have any information about the stolen mini-bikes, please immediately call police at 210-207-SAPD or Crime Stoppers at 210-224-STOP.
Shriners parade Tuesday night
The Shriners plan to hold a free night parade to thank the city for hosting them.
The parade will start at 7:00 p.m. Tuesday at the corner of Avenue E and 4th Street and will wind through the Downtown area.
To view a map of the parade route,
click here.
