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HOUSTON (FOX 26) - The Harris County Fire Marshal's Office and Crime Stoppers are now offering up to a $5,000 reward for any information that could lead to the arrest of the person(s) responsible for stealing two fireworks trailers and a generator in the Houston area.
Authorities are now determined to find three thieves -- all caught on surveillance video driving the same black, Chevy truck. All are believed to be working together.
The man wearing a red shirt is believed to be responsible for stealing both fireworks trailers last week. The two African American men are accused of stealing a generator from a Home Depot in Spring on Thursday.
"We have fireworks that have been taken and stolen. We don't know where they're being stored, or if they're stored properly or what the intended use or sale of those outside of Harris County is," said Laurie Christensen, a Harris County Fire Marshal.
Although investigators have the license plate number of the truck, they said it belongs to a man not involved in the crimes. The man apparently agreed to lend his car to a stranger, in exchange for an undisclosed, small amount of money.
"He let the individual borrow it and the time frame that he gave for the time that it was being borrowed, is the time of the crimes. He's working with us trying to get a positive identity in this suspect," said HCFMO Liet. Scott Schoonover.
Authorities said they don't currently have any reason to believe the thieves are planning on using the fireworks as weapons, although they are not ruling that out.
Investigators said the main concern is whether the fireworks are being stored properly because the combination of the heat and current wind patterns could be dangerous.
Stephanie Case is the owner of the Rockets n Roll fireworks stand in northwest Houston. Case said she was trying to make some extra cash this July Fourth holiday, but her 26-foot trailer was stolen around 2 a.m. Thursday.
"It's cruel. We lost our entire home during Hurricane Harvey and we were hoping to use the money from this to help rebuild, so it's really hurt our business," Case said.
Case has since replaced the stolen trailer, with a 16-foot trailer and is now back in business. However, she said the difference in the trailers' capacities will hinder her target profits this season.
The owners of the Texas Style Fireworks trailer in Cypress tells FOX 26 that they too are back in business, hoping to make up for their losses over the weekend.
Authorities are now urging the public to only buy fireworks from reputable sellers.
"Try not to buy them off the Internet, Craigslist-- things like that because they're probably not being stored properly or sold properly with the right manufacturers," said HCFMO Deputy Chief Chad Shaw.