Pitkin County Sheriff’s Office reports two vehicle break-ins

The Pitkin County Sheriff’s Office is seeking information about two separate thefts of items inside locked vehicles parked Tuesday at the Maroon Bells trailhead and mile marker 28 of Highway 82, a favorite parking area for rafters and fishermen along the Roaring Fork River.

The Maroon Bells incident occurred sometime between 4:15 a.m., when hikers parked their vehicle, and 7:30 a.m., when a U.S. Forest Service ranger noticed damage caused by the break-in, according to Deputy George Kremer.

Kremer said he did not have an estimate as to when the Highway 82 roadside theft occurred. Both incidents relied on similar methods, but it has yet to be determined if the thefts were committed by the same perpetrators.

In the summer of 2011, there was a rash of vehicle break-ins and thefts at parking lots near trailheads along Independence Pass, he added.

Anyone with information about the recent thefts is encouraged to call the deputy at 970-920-5300.