ROYSE CITY, Texas — A trailer that was stolen from a children's dance team was found Monday night by the Van Zandt County Sheriff's Office.
The trailer was discovered stolen on Friday, June 14, when Shannon Vaut took her 9-year-old daughter, Londyn, to practice solo at Dance & Arts Connection Studio. When Shannon went to get a prop from the team trailer, it was gone.
Anywhere from $20,000 to $30,000 worth of stuff was stolen; the team's 20-foot box trailer was towed away by a truck in the middle of the night on June 12, according to surveillance footage.
The trailer was recovered around 7 p.m. on the shoulder of Interstate 20, officials said in a statement. All of the stolen property was still inside the trailer and it was returned to its owner.
The theft couldn't have come at a worse time. Kids ranging in age from four to 18 have been practicing all year in preparation for one event: Nationals.
Sunday, on Father's Day, many of the team's dads came together to help rebuild and paint the props. Shannon says though the circumstances aren't ideal, it created camaraderie. One of the dads even grilled for everyone.
The dance team is raising money to recoup. Those interested in helping can donate here.
Now, the props they built are just backups.
Shannon's daughter Londyn thought she would have to rechoreograph her whole routine. Now, she'll have all her props and a memory with her teammates.
"She'll be more resilient, she's 9," Shannon Vaut said. "Everyone will come back to rehearse tomorrow. They let the kids paint and it's a giant mess."