The Breckenridge Police Department is reporting an increase in ski and snowboards thefts in 2016 after a two year decline according to the Denver Post. 26 skis and snowboards were reported stolen in 2016 (up from the 16 in 2015 and 25 in 2014).
While the number of thefts increased 2016, it is still less than the 75 stolen 2013. That was the year a “serial thief” stole dozens of skis and snowboards and sold them online. That sleezebag got taken down by law enforcement and plead guilty in 2014. He agreed to pay $100,000 in restitution and the district attorney’s office tried to contact hundreds of believed victims to compensate them with the funds but very few responded.
The DA’s office has since set up a snow sport equipment theft restitution fund with the money and people who have their snow gear stolen in any of the four counties in Colorado’s Fifth Judicial District can apply for compensation….good to know.
Law enforcement’s main avenue for solving these cases is monitoring Craigslist and Ebay, where thieves usually turn to pedal their hot items. They also encourage skier and snowboarders to write down serial numbers and add identifying features to their equipment (stickers, stomp pads ect.).
TAKEAWAYS:
-If you get your equipment stolen in Colorado’s Fifth Judicial District, you can get compensation even if it’s not recovered.
-Write down the serial numbers of you equipment
-Add identifying features like stickers or use a paint pen.
[images from gobreck.com & radiowest.kuer.org]