TEMPLE, Texas — UPDATE: The cars and trailer have been found and returned to their rightful owner.
Here's the story:
A couple traveled to Temple on Wednesday for an antique car event but now they're working with police after their trailer with two Model T antique cars inside was stolen.
Temple police are asking for the public's help in finding the stolen vehicle suspect.
On Sept. 29, officers received a call around 10:47 p.m. after a black 2018 Diamond Cargo Trailer with Texas License Plate Number 91016N was stolen.
According to police, the trailer held a black 1925 Ford Model T Roadster and a black 1926 Ford Model T Coupe.
Police have now released surveillance video of the alleged suspect.
The person of interest is described as a male with a white tank top, black shorts, and white shoes, officers say. He is believed to be driving a Chevrolet Tahoe.
Police are asking for anyone with information to call the Temple Police Department at 254-298-5500 or the Bell County Crime Stoppers at 254-526-8477, where callers can report anonymously.
Model T car owners from across the state drove into Temple for the annual Texas "T" Party event.
Benny Guseman and his girlfriend Sara Conroy traveled from Nacogdoches to attend the four day event. On the first night, their trailer with two antique cars inside was stolen.
"My car and a friend of mine's is in the trailer," Guseman said.
Both cars are Ford Model Ts from the 1920s.
"Well it belonged to my dad," Guseman said.
"His dad restored it from scratch," Conroy said.
The couple was touring different spots in Central Texas and put the cars up Wednesday night in a trailer at the Frank W. Mayborn Civic & Convention Center. The trailer had GPS, so they got a notification that it was moving but lost track of it after a few miles.
Guseman and Conroy said they're not sure if the suspects even knew what was inside the trailer.
"They may have just been, 'Oh I want the trailer' but the cars really, really mean a lot to us," Conroy said.
"I don't know about putting a dollar value on it but there was a lot of time and effort," Guseman said.
Now instead of enjoying the event, they're working with Temple Police and trying to get surveillance video.
"You know it's just disheartening that it's happened," Conroy said.
They both said this was certainly not the way they expected this trip to go. They're hoping with the help of police and the community, they won't have to go back home without their cars.
"Both cars mean a lot to them, a whole lot, and we really would like to get the cars back," Conroy said.
"We'd like to get them back for sure," Guseman said.
They're asking anyone with information to contact the Temple Police Department. Keep in mind this event goes through the weekend so you may see a lot of Model T cars around town.