Vendor's truck stolen right before Minnesota State Fair
MINNEAPOLIS (KMSP) - One vendor's first year at the Minnesota State Fair is off to a very rough start. His truck and trailer, containing all his sample furniture, was stolen just before the fair got underway. Now, he may not even be able to get home.
The 1998 Toyota Tacoma had about $2,000 of his belongings inside. As you can imagine, having a vehicle stolen is not only a painful violation, but it makes his heart sick considering what was inside.
“I’ve never had anything like this happen,” said Terry Hertz of Alpha Omega Western Furnishings. “In fact, I’ve never had an auto claim in 50 years of driving. I’m 66.”
Hertz drove his vehicle all the way from California. Just to make sure Alpha Omega Western Furnishings was a part of the Minnesota State Fair, he pulled 5,000 pounds of furniture up over a hill after making the 4-day drive.
“I unloaded on Saturday then I parked my truck and trailer and unhooked my truck from the trailer Saturday night. Then sometime between 1 and 4 a.m. somebody decided to slip a thing in, opened it and took off with it,” he said. “I don’t know why somebody would do this.”
The incident happened while parked outside of his cousin’s Roseville home on the corner of C2 and Delwood Street.
“All my literature is in there, I can’t even talk to people intelligently about my product,” he said.
Terry’s loss comes to at least $5,000. And through his business, Hertz, who’s also a missionary, supports “Daring Caring and Sharing Ministries.”
“I have a lot on this show, we don’t make a lot of money and we support that nonprofit,” Hertz said.
The nonprofit goes to southeast Asia every year to help families in poverty. Now, Hertz finds himself on the other side of need. He said he doesn’t know how he’s going to get home yet, but he’s trusting God.
Hertz spent 11 years paying on the vehicle and the insurance isn’t going to give him even close to what he’s invested in it over the years. He’s asking whoever stole it to simply park it where they found it so he can get his literature, and have a way back home.
If you know where his truck is, please call Roseville Police.