ADDISON COUNTY — Vermont State Police on Sept. 13-15 received multiple reports from victims of car break-ins at local hiking trailheads in Salisbury, Leicester and Ripton, including at the Robert Frost and Falls of Lana trailheads and at Branbury State Park. Multiple wallets, purses and cell phones have been reported taken.
For instance, on Monday, Sept. 15, at approximately 8:25 p.m. troopers received word of a theft at the Silver Lake trail parking area off Lake Dunmore Road in Salisbury. The victim in this instance, a Salisbury man, told state police that his vehicle was broken into and several items stolen while he was hiking on the trail. Items reported stolen include a box with 15 harmonicas, a pitch pipe, and two head lamps. This case remains open pending any leads.
Vermont State Police encourage anyone with information to reach out to local troopers and remind community members that leaving valuables in your vehicle is never a good idea. Patrols have been increased in the area during target hours and several investigations are under way.
Anyone with information on these break-ins is asked to contact Trooper Armstrong at 802-388-4919. Information can also be submitted anonymously online at www.vtips.info or by texting “CRIMES” (274637) to keyword: VTIPS.
In other recent activity, state police:
•  On Sept. 9 issued a press release that said troopers on Aug. 25 received a report from a Panton resident that on the previous day Volkswagen Passat struts valued at $280 had been stolen off the front porch of his Route 22A home. The victim told police that he had ordered the parts through the mail and that the mail carrier delivered the car parts at 5:35 p.m., but when the resident arrived home after work at 8:45 p.m. the merchandise was gone. Anyone with information about the stolen car parts is asked to contact the state police.
•  On Sept. 9 checked the welfare of an individual at a Starksboro home following an incident in Richmond, at the request of Richmond police. While conducting the welfare check, state police learned an assault had taken place the previous night at 11 p.m. at the residence. Troopers said their investigation showed that Duane Bedell, 49, of Starksboro had assaulted a household member; police arrested and lodged Bedell at Chittenden County Correctional Center for lack of $25,000 bail on aggravated domestic assault charges.
•  On Sept. 9 received a report of the theft of an iPhone charger and loose change from a vehicle parked at an Old Hollow Road home in Ferrisburgh. The victim said someone stole the items sometime between 11 p.m. on Sept. 8 and 6 a.m. that morning. The Vermont State Police remind people to lock their vehicles to help deter thefts. Anyone with information is asked to contact the VSP.
•  On Sept. 10 at 9:39 p.m. stopped a motor vehicle driven by Jacob G. Clark, 22, of Hinesburg on Route 116 in Bristol for speeding. Police ended up citing Clark for driving under the influence of alcohol.
• On Sept. 11 released a report that state police were investigating the theft of $5,000 worth of copper load coil from the parking lot of the Shoreham Telephone Company in Shoreham. Police had narrowed down the time of the theft to sometime between 9 and 9:21 p.m. on Aug. 22. Anyone with information on this crime, or who knows of a large sale of copper, is asked to contact VSP.
•  On Sept. 11 at approximately 8:56 a.m. responded to a two-vehicle crash on Route 7 in Waltham at the intersection of Plank Road. Police said a 2006 Scion driven by 22-year-old David Stearns of Burlington was following a 2005 Ford truck driven by David Ambrose, 72, of Vergennes southbound on Route 7 when Ambrose’s truck stopped to turn onto Plank Road. Stearns’ Scion failed to stop and struck the rear of the truck; the impact caused the Scion to roll over before coming to rest off the roadway. Stearns sustained cuts from the crash and was transported to Porter Hospital by Vergennes Area Rescue Squad. Ambrose was evaluated and released by medical personnel at the scene. State police are still investigating the cause of the crash. Anyone who witnessed it is asked to contact the VSP.
•  On Sept. 11 at approximately 5:45 p.m. were told of two laptop computers and an accompanying charger that had been found near Big Hollow Road in Starksboro. The laptops are Apple MacBook Pros and both are silver. They are currently being held at the New Haven barracks. Anyone missing these items is asked contact Trooper Adria Pickin at the New Haven barracks at 802-388-4919.
•  On Sept. 11 started investigating a burglary at a Bishop Hill Road home in Orwell, where approximately $100 worth of silver coins and $25 worth of costume jewelry were stolen. Anyone with information on this incident is asked to call VSP.
•  On Sept. 12 at 3:33 p.m. responded to a crash involving three vehicles on Route 7 in Ferrisburgh just north of the Ferrisburgh fire house. Police report that a vehicle carrying empty 55-gallon plastic drums lost one in the roadway. A Good Samaritan attempted to get it out of the roadway, which caused traffic to stop suddenly and back up. A 1998 Dodge Ram pickup driven by Richard Lavallette, 42, of Hinesburg was unable to stop in time to avoid the vehicles in front, and swerved going left of center and striking a 2013 Kia Forte driven by Rachel Craig, 20, of Mansfield, Mass., after already striking another vehicle. All drivers involved were wearing seat belts and no injuries were reported, though all vehicles involved were damaged. The Ferrisburgh Fire Department, Addison County Sheriff’s deputies and Vergennes police all assisted at the scene. The crash caused traffic delays. The accident is under investigation.
•  On Sept. 13 stopped a 2002 Chevy TrailBlazer driven by Michelle Bennett, 26, of New Haven, for suspicion of an expired registration. The trooper cited Bennett for driving with a criminally suspended license.
•  On Sept. 13 responded to a two-vehicle collision that occurred at the intersection of Hunt Road and Route 7 in New Haven. Police said their investigation suggests that a driver stopped suddenly to allow a car to exit Hunt Road onto Route 7 causing a sudden stopping of traffic behind it. Several vehicles drove wide to avoid the vehicle in front of them. Even with an evasive move driver Tylor Highter, 27, of New Haven was unable to avoid the vehicle in front of him and collided with a 2009 Honda sedan driven by Tara Maloney, 21, of Winooski. Both vehicles were damaged but no injuries were reported.