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Police say 3 cars stolen in Steamboat since July 30

Matt Stensland

— Steamboat Springs Police Department officers are investigating three vehicle thefts that have occurred since July 30.

Two of the vehicles have been recovered, and a South Carolina man was arrested Tuesday in Kansas on suspicion of stealing one of them.

On July 30, a 2003 cactus green Jeep Liberty was reported stolen from the Fish Creek Condos parking lot in the 400 block of Tamarack Drive. The theft is believed to have occurred between 12:30 a.m. and 9:45 a.m. that day, Steamboat Police Capt. Joel Rae said. The Jeep contained camping gear and was left unlocked with the keys in the ignition.



On Tuesday morning, officers were called to a report of a near-inoperable Subaru stolen from the 400 block of Fourth Street. Officers had found the car earlier that day abandoned at the Kum & Go gas station on Anglers Drive.

Rae said there are no suspects in those two car theft cases.



The third vehicle theft is suspected of occurring sometime between 7 a.m. Aug. 5 and Saturday. A Steamboat man left his 2000 Toyota Tacoma at Cook Chevrolet and Subaru on Curve Plaza for servicing. The car was locked with keys in the ignition, Rae said.

The pickup was recovered at a convenience store in Salina, Kan., on Tuesday.

Rae said the man suspected of stealing the car was caught while trying to commit a residential burglary. The man, who the Salina Post identified as 34-year-old Jason Tipler from Easley, S.C., was found in possession of another stolen vehicle, Rae said. Police say he also had the key to the Tacoma in his pocket, which led to the recovery of the truck.

“It definitely sounds like the suspect who took the Tacoma was passing through the area,” Rae said.

Steve Dunklin, manager at Cook Chevrolet, told police earlier this week that it appeared someone had attempted to break into two other cars at the dealership.

Anyone with information about this or any other unsolved crime are encouraged to call Routt County Crime Stoppers at 970-870-6226. Callers can remain anonymous and earn a cash reward.


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