SPRINGFIELD, Mo — A national crime ring – busted. Investigators say a trailer theft operation here in the Ozarks reached far across the USA. Detectives say South Valley Trailer, LLC, located at 1219 E. Division Street, would steal trailers, change the vin numbers, and then sell them out of state – as far away as North Dakota. The bust dates back to December 2012, when several trailers were reported stolen in Springfield; security cameras captured some of them. Someone spotted a missing trailer at South Valley a few days later, prompting a police investigation. Sales records showed transports to a company in North Dakota, who posted pictures of trailers of sale. The pictures matched the descriptions of the stolen property. Officers say details helped crack the case. “People need to make sure they know serial numbers and the info of the trailers and keep them secure,” Lt. Kevin Grizzell tells KSPR News. “Keep them locked up and chain them. The harder you make it to steal, the less likely it is to be stolen.” Detectives went back to the company’s offices last month and took several hard drives and computers. Officers think files saved on those drives will reveal the whole extent of the ring. Grizzell says he expects prosecutors to file charges against South Valley’s owners later this month. One owner already has a  long criminal record, including two convictions involving burglary and stealing. Springfield police officers served a second search warrant last month on a company called South Valley Trailers. Original article: http://www.kspr.com/news/kspr-springfield-cops-say-theyve-busted-national-crime-ring-20130401,0,344630.story