Griffin Police are investigating the theft of a trailer that was found before the owner realized it was missing.

Deputies with the Spalding County Sheriff’s Office located the black enclosed trailer sitting abandoned near the county reservoir. Deputies determined the identity of the owner and that the trailer was stolen from the owner’s Meriwether Street towing business located within Griffin city limits.

Police met at the business Thursday afternoon with Spalding County Sheriff Wendell Beam, who advised them of the situation. The owner was in the process of opening his business and hadn’t realized that the trailer was missing.

The owner valued the trailer at $3,000, but said the contents of the trailer, four video poker machines, were missing. The machines were valued at $3,750 each. He provided police with his license for the machines.

According to the report, officers observed the lock, with a key still in it, on the gate. The lock, with the key, was photographed and placed into evidence for processing.

Police also observed tire tracks and footprints in the yard, which were also photographed. The trailer was seen in the lot the previous day by the owner.

A neighboring business owner told police that he last saw the trailer at 10:30 p.m. Wednesday, when leaving his business. The neighbor said the property owner’s sons also have keys to the fence for doing maintenance on the lot.