PROVO, Utah — Detectives with the Utah County Sheriff’s Office need your help identifying the suspects in a series of brazen car burglaries.
According to police, the suspects targeted cars parked at the trailheads of popular outdoor destinations in Provo Canyon.
“[The burglaries] happen during the day at places like Vivian Park, Bridal Veil Falls, or Nunn's Park in Provo Canyon. They also happen at areas like nearby trailhead parking lots above Alpine and Aspen Grove,” a news release from the Utah County Sheriff’s Office says “Some [burglars] take only cash and loose change. Some take electronic items like phones and iPad type devices. Some will steal purses and wallets. Others will take firearms if present while others will not.”
Detectives say the suspects sometimes use a screwdriver or another tool to punch out the door lock to open the vehicle door.
“And then they‘ll open the door and they’ll get in and they’ll look through purses or wallets and take just the financial transaction cards, credit cards and debit cards,” said Sgt. Spencer Cannon, UCSO.
Sgt. Cannon says the suspects often try to use these cards quickly, before they are declined or maxed out. In one transaction, Cannon said, two women spent nearly 15 minutes at a self checkout line, using several stolen cards to ring up $2400 in ill-gotten purchases, mostly pre-paid cash cards.
As face coverings are ubiquitous during the pandemic, detectives realize the suspects may be a little more difficult to identify. Anyone with information on the suspects pictured is urged to call the Utah County Sheriff’s Office at 801-794-3970.
