NATCHEZ — The perpetrators who stole an unmarked 12-by-6-foot, single-axle Haulmark trailer out of the parking lot of the Western Auto store sometime Wednesday night likely did not know what they were getting, owners of the trailer said.

“In that trailer is a hot-air balloon, which makes it an FAA-registered aircraft,” said Chris Trippe.

Trippe said he and a friend had been doing maintenance on the hot-air balloon and left the trailer containing the balloon and setup in the Western Auto parking lot Wednesday night.

The trailer, Trippe said, was discovered missing Thursday afternoon, and Trippe posted pictures of the balloon on social media Thursday night, with the following message:

“Stolen In Natchez Mississippi, Reward Offered for info leading to recovery. Trailer Is a 2013 White Haulmark 12 x 6 Single Axle, Double Back door, Single Curbside Door, V Nose. Balloon is a 2013 Kubicek BB40Z (140 CuFt) N467SE. Basket is also Kubicek 4×6 With Door … Double Ignis Burners”

Trippe said he reported the trailer and the hot-air balloon items missing and is in the process of gathering documentation of the items to give to investigators.

“The trailer had no markings that would let anyone know what was in there,” Trippe said. “Being an aircraft, it is a federal offense.”

Trippe estimates the value of the trailer and its contents to be in the $60,000 range and urged anyone with information to contact the Natchez Police Department.

“It was in a plain trailer,” Trippe said. “If it had a logo on it they might not have taken it.”