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News Release

MCDA AUTO THEFT TASK FORCE TRACKS DOWN ACCUSED PROLIFIC UTILITY TRAILER THIEF WHO STOLE EVEN WHILE WEARING A COURT ORDERED GPS ANKLE MONITOR - 01/16/26

 


 

1/16/26 


 

Portland, OR-

 

Portland police assisted investigators from the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Auto Theft Task Force in arresting a man accused of being a prolific utility trailer thief on January 15, 2026.

 

Nickolas (spelled in some court documents as Nicholas) Alexander Edwards faces multiple charges and multiple cases in the criminal justice system in Multnomah, Washington and Marion Counties in Oregon and Clark County in Washington. 

 

Edwards was arraigned in Multnomah County court January 16, 2026 and held on $100-thousand-dollars bail. 

 

The current set of cases in Multnomah County were investigated by the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Auto Theft Task Force in collaboration with the Clark County Sheriff’s Office.

 

According to the PC Affidavit in case 25CR17473, Edwards stole a utility trailer on March 4, 2025, from a victim while on GPS monitoring. He was being monitored as part of an earlier case filed against him in Clark County. 

 

The charges in case 25CR23196 stem from a Clark County investigation from February of 2024. Notably, in 2023 and 2024, Clark County had linked Edwards to dozens of trailer thefts totaling losses close to $200,000 between loss of property and items taken from community members’ trailers.

 

For months he is alleged to have stolen multiple community members’ trailers and posted those stolen trailers for sale online through OfferUp and Facebook Marketplace. Edwards also is alleged to have entered other peoples’ property to commit thefts. The investigation revealed that the defendant established a pattern of selling stolen trailers for cash and then subsequently stealing the same trailer from the person to whom he sold it. 

 

In case 26CR03172, Edwards is accused of stealing a cargo trailer worth $6,000 on October 19, 2025 from the area of SE 122nd. According to the affidavit, the owner later found his trailer advertised on OfferUp under an account associated with Edwards. Edwards’ GPS tracker showed him at the location during the theft. 

 

According to the affidavit, that same trailer was sold to someone in Beaverton and then stolen again on October 25, 2025. The affidavit states that Edwards’ GPS tracker showed him at the location selling the trailer and also at the location when the trailer was stolen in Beaverton on October 25, 2025.

 

On November 3, 2025, another victim reported their utility trailer, a Wells Cargo 2001 trailer worth $4,000, was stolen. According to the affidavit Edwards’ GPS again showed he was at the location at the time of the theft.

 

On November 10, 2025, another victim reported their utility trailer stolen. It had a reported value of $6,000. Investigators checked Edwards’ GPS tracker which showed him at the address of the stolen trailer at the time it  was stolen.

 

Edwards is also accused of stealing a utility trailer January 14, 2026 from a residence on NE Prescott in the Portland area. Investigators checked his GPS and found he was at the location when the trailer was stolen.

 

Investigators were able to locate Edwards and arrest him after he recklessly eluded police and committed a hit and run with a stolen cargo trailer attached to his vehicle.

 

Anyone who thinks they might be a victim of similar thefts, please email us at:

DA@MCDA.US

 

MCDA Auto Theft Task Force would like to thank our law enforcement partners who worked these cases including Clark County Sheriff’s Office, Portland Police East Precinct, Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office and Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office.

 

All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

 

                                                           ###MCDA###



 

MCDA AUTO THEFT TASK FORCE TRACKS DOWN ACCUSED PROLIFIC UTILITY TRAILER THIEF WHO STOLE EVEN WHILE WEARING A COURT ORDERED GPS ANKLE MONITOR - 01/16/26

 


 

1/16/26 


 

Portland, OR-

 

Portland police assisted investigators from the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Auto Theft Task Force in arresting a man accused of being a prolific utility trailer thief on January 15, 2026.

 

Nickolas (spelled in some court documents as Nicholas) Alexander Edwards faces multiple charges and multiple cases in the criminal justice system in Multnomah, Washington and Marion Counties in Oregon and Clark County in Washington. 

 

Edwards was arraigned in Multnomah County court January 16, 2026 and held on $100-thousand-dollars bail. 

 

The current set of cases in Multnomah County were investigated by the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Auto Theft Task Force in collaboration with the Clark County Sheriff’s Office.

 

According to the PC Affidavit in case 25CR17473, Edwards stole a utility trailer on March 4, 2025, from a victim while on GPS monitoring. He was being monitored as part of an earlier case filed against him in Clark County. 

 

The charges in case 25CR23196 stem from a Clark County investigation from February of 2024. Notably, in 2023 and 2024, Clark County had linked Edwards to dozens of trailer thefts totaling losses close to $200,000 between loss of property and items taken from community members’ trailers.

 

For months he is alleged to have stolen multiple community members’ trailers and posted those stolen trailers for sale online through OfferUp and Facebook Marketplace. Edwards also is alleged to have entered other peoples’ property to commit thefts. The investigation revealed that the defendant established a pattern of selling stolen trailers for cash and then subsequently stealing the same trailer from the person to whom he sold it. 

 

In case 26CR03172, Edwards is accused of stealing a cargo trailer worth $6,000 on October 19, 2025 from the area of SE 122nd. According to the affidavit, the owner later found his trailer advertised on OfferUp under an account associated with Edwards. Edwards’ GPS tracker showed him at the location during the theft. 

 

According to the affidavit, that same trailer was sold to someone in Beaverton and then stolen again on October 25, 2025. The affidavit states that Edwards’ GPS tracker showed him at the location selling the trailer and also at the location when the trailer was stolen in Beaverton on October 25, 2025.

 

On November 3, 2025, another victim reported their utility trailer, a Wells Cargo 2001 trailer worth $4,000, was stolen. According to the affidavit Edwards’ GPS again showed he was at the location at the time of the theft.

 

On November 10, 2025, another victim reported their utility trailer stolen. It had a reported value of $6,000. Investigators checked Edwards’ GPS tracker which showed him at the address of the stolen trailer at the time it  was stolen.

 

Edwards is also accused of stealing a utility trailer January 14, 2026 from a residence on NE Prescott in the Portland area. Investigators checked his GPS and found he was at the location when the trailer was stolen.

 

Investigators were able to locate Edwards and arrest him after he recklessly eluded police and committed a hit and run with a stolen cargo trailer attached to his vehicle.

 

Anyone who thinks they might be a victim of similar thefts, please email us at:

DA@MCDA.US

 

MCDA Auto Theft Task Force would like to thank our law enforcement partners who worked these cases including Clark County Sheriff’s Office, Portland Police East Precinct, Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office and Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office.

 

All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

 

                                                           ###MCDA###