LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- A truck parked in the Louisville's Highlands neighborhood was stolen in a matter of moments.

New owners took over Freedom Pressure Washing last summer. Co-owners Elijah Reigelman and Griffin Ley said they've put their blood, sweat and tears into the business.

"It's just something that we're genuinely proud of, being able to start something from scratch and build it up," Reigelman said.

But less than six months into running their new business, someone stole their work truck and every tool in it. The truck even had the company's name and phone number branded on it. The theft was captured on a surveillance camera. 

"We were about to go out and do our Chick-fil-A that we wash and the truck's [was] gone," Ley said. "I was like 'what?'"

Remains of power washing truck.jpg

Remains of Freedom Pressure Washing truck.

The missing truck put them out of work for a week. They had to cancel jobs and reschedule with clients.

"I was angry," Reigelman said. "This was a second Gen 24 valve Cummins, it was an antique."

Police found the truck on Dec. 3, 2023, around a month after it was stolen. But, the truck was gutted, a far cry from the pristine vehicle that was taken.

"When you put that much time and energy and effort into a vehicle and really build it, and work on it and to see all the doors off and dinged up and dented," Reigelman said. "Seats missing. It was really aggravating."

Earlier this year, Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport was targeted by car thieves. Seven Dodge Chargers were stolen from the parking garage.

"Definitely sucks that being from here, it seems like a good part of town," Ley said. "Everyday you see on Nextdoor, on Facebook, stolen car, stolen property. This was unfortunate."

Ley and Reigelman said police are working to find out who stripped it.

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Remains of Freedom Pressure Washing in Louisville, Ky.

"I think Louisville could do better as far as just surveillance on the streets goes," Reigelman said.

For now, the co-owners have accepted what happened and are back in business with a new truck.

"The world's just going to keep moving so you got to adapt with it," Reigelman said. "That's what we're able to do."

LMPD recommends people to park in well-lit, busy areas, and to not leave personal items in cars.

"For how big of a problem we think this story was, in retrospect, there's people getting murdered on the streets in Louisville, there's people getting houses broken into, overdoses," Reigelman said. "So at the end of the day, I mean, they're just worried about bigger problems, and you got to understand that."

Anyone with information is urged to call LMPD's anonymous Crime Tip Line at 502-574-LMPD (5673). Tips can also be submitted anonymously through the department's Crime Tip Portal by clicking here.

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