Steamboat Pilot & Today

Steamboat Springs — A 23-year-old Craig man faces numerous felony charges for allegedly trying to steal a change machine from a hotel and allegedly stealing credit cards and cash from a grocery store last week.

Michael Christopher Jones was arrested Sunday evening for allegedly trying to remove a change machine from the Ramada Hilltop and stealing 11 credit cards and $50 in cash from an employee locker room at Safeway.

Both alleged incidents occurred the afternoon of

May 2.

According to court records, Jones is a former employee of the Ramada, 1000 Highpoint Drive, and Safeway, 1400 Lincoln Ave.

Jones allegedly went to the grocery store after 1 p.m. and stole the credit cards and the cash from two purses that were in employee lockers, records show.

He allegedly used one of the credit cards to purchase $15 worth of batteries later in the day, records show.

For the alleged incident he faces charges of criminal possession of a financial device, third-degree burglary and criminal impersonation, which are all felonies.

He also faces a charge of misdemeanor theft.

Jones allegedly went to the Ramada just after 2:30 p.m., where he allegedly attempted to steal a change machine from the vending area by using a luggage cart, records show.

Jones allegedly told hotel staff he was there to fix the machine or take it out, records show.

Police were called when hotel personnel contacted the company that owns the machine and found out they had not sent a worker to retrieve the machine, records show.

Jones left the hotel before police arrived.

Authorities found the machine pulled away from the wall and unplugged.

For this incident, Jones faces felony charges of criminal attempt and misdemeanor criminal trespassing.

Jones was arrested Sunday night as he was attempting to hitchhike on U.S. 40 west of Steamboat Springs.

Currently, Jones is free on bail. He posted a $2,000 bond.

He has court dates set for June and July.