String of ski thefts plagues Breckenridge over Thanksgiving

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Five sets of skis have been stolen from the base area at Breckenridge Ski Resort's Peak 8, four of them over the holiday weekend, prompting local authorities to encourage skiers to take precautions to protect their gear.

Breckenridge police say they can't necessarily link the thefts, but Völkl brand skis left unattended near restaurants in the Peak 8 base area seem to be the hot target.

"We don't have a high enough volume right now to say that it's one make or one model, but there is a favored ski," Breckenridge Detective Alex Blank said.

The string of Breckenridge thefts came after Summit County authorities arrested two young men suspected of stealing three snowboards and a set of skis at Copper Mountain last week.

One of the men, Gunnar Thorngren, was charged with conspiracy and theft of $1,000-$20,000 after the gear was found near his car in a secluded parking lot at the resort, according to a report from the Summit County Sheriff's Office. The other suspect is a minor. His name and charges were not made public due to his age.

This year's thefts are similar to the pattern of cases reported last year, Breckenridge authorities said, when higher-end demo Völkl skis tended to be a popular target.

The thefts could be related to the increased number of people on the mountain for the holiday weekend, authorities said, but the number of incidents did not appear to be out of the ordinary.

Still, Blank urged skiers to take precautions to keep their gear safe, encouraging them to lock skis, leave them in secure locations or split up pairs when leaving them on racks outside restaurants.

"I don't think we have a rampant problem, but it's something we obviously take seriously," Blank said. "That's our message to visitors, is keep an eye on your stuff."

Breckenridge police are working with Vail Resorts to improve video surveillance in the area and meeting regularly with resort security to account for all reports. Authorities are also working to recover the skies that have been stolen.

Anyone with information regarding the thefts or looking to report an incident should contact the Breckenridge Police Department at (970) 453-2941.