Troopers request assistance following string of trailhead thefts

PALMER — Alaska State Troopers are asking for the assistance of Mat-Su Valley residents in tracking down and charging suspects in a recent string of thefts at the Reflection Lake and Crevasse-Morraine trailheads.

On Jan. 19, AST posted on their daily dispatch that AST with Palmer Patrol and the Criminal Suppression Unit were “attempting to identify and locate the suspects who have consistently broken vehicle windows and stolen items from inside vehicles parked at these trailheads.”

Troopers request that victims of thefts at trailheads report the details of the incident.

“If anyone has had a smash and grab occur here in the last few months at either of those trailheads to please call and report it. It sounds like it’s gotten to the point now where some folks aren’t calling and reporting it and the assigned Trooper would really appreciate being able to add as many cases and get as much information as he can as he’s building the case,” said AST Public Information Officer Austin McDaniel. “Anybody who sees anybody acting suspicious at either of those trailheads to keep track of the description of the person, any vehicle descriptions and the time of day and the day of the week that they’re out there and then call and report that into the Troopers so that way they can help kind of build up that case in the timeline for when these smash and grabs are occurring.”

McDaniel said that troopers encourage Alaskans to refrain from bringing valuable items with them in their vehicles to any trailhead around the Mat-Su Valley, and to keep those valuables with them hidden from view.

The tip line for Crime Stoppers in the Mat-Su is 745-3333.