Police seek suspects in theft at Waterbury trailhead
June 17, 2021 | By Lisa Scagliotti UPDATE: This story was updated with new information on Friday, June 18, 2021.
It happens every summer. Hikers off on trails report their vehicles being broken into and valuables stolen.
Such was the case at the Hunger Mountain trailhead parking lot on Sweet Road on Tuesday, but this time Vermont State Police have photos of a suspect who they say used a stolen debit card in town soon after it went missing from a car parked by the popular hiking spot. Since then, several other local residents have come forward on Front Porch Forum to tell of encounters with the suspects in the case that suggest the pair is continuing to scout new targets. Community members have been sharing their stories to help caution others.
The first incident reported to Vermont State Police was at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 15, when William Bucossi from Winooski Street reported that his wallet stolen from his vehicle parked at the Hunger Mountain trailhead. Bucossi also alerted neighbors in a post on Waterbury’s Front Porch Forum where he said the incident happened between 5 and 6 p.m. and that both the wallet and a pair of jeans were taken from his car.
State Trooper Tylor Rancourt said that investigation revealed that Bucossi’s debit card was used at Billings Mobil on Rt. 100 soon afterward. Rancourt said that there are two suspects in the case and that security cameras captured images of one man and the vehicle. One photo shows the individual at the checkout counter; another has him walking to the passenger side of the vehicle in the parking lot; a third shows the vehicle pulling out of the parking spot.
The state police description of one suspect is of a white man with brown hair who was wearing red shorts, a dark-colored shirt, and sneakers. “The suspect was seen leaving Billings Mobil in a white Honda Civic with a temporary Vermont license plate,” Rancourt said.
Bucossi’s account included more details. “The thieves unsuccessfully attempted to purchase six cartons of cigarettes from the Shell Gas station,” he wrote, adding that they were successful buying two cartons at the Mobil. The security camera’s image shows a man carrying two cartons of cigarettes. Bucossi added: “Then they headed over to True Value, not sure what happened there. I suspect this is not uncommon at trailheads so be aware and learn from my loss.”
That information caught the eye of Peter Holm who responded on Front Porch Forum later Wednesday afternoon about a strange encounter he had at his home on Sweet Road around the time on Tuesday. “At 5:15 a 30ish man knocked on my door, identified himself as ‘Francis,’ and said he was driving around looking for used cars to buy and wondered if one of ours was for sale,” Holm wrote. “Left in a white car with temp plates. Given Will's post, it's possible he was really just checking to see if we were home. Beware.”
On Thursday, Francis Furtak on Guptil Road posted online that the description matched two individuals who drove down his driveway on Guptil Road. Similar inquiry about looking for cars and an odd coincidence that they used the name “Francis” as that is his name as well. Annette Litchfield on Ripley Road chimed in Friday saying that the pair paid her home a visit this week and spoke with her son. “They said they were looking for cars to buy, and did he want to sell his. They acted like they didn't know the area and asked how to get back to the main road,” she explained.
Rancourt’s news release said that so far, charges at hand would be petit larceny and false pretenses. He said with the growing awareness in the community, tips are welcome to connect incidents. Anyone with information that could help identify the individuals is asked to contact the Vermont State Police Middlesex barracks at 802-229-9191. Tips also may be submitted by text using the keyword VTIPS to 274637 (CRIMES). To send information anonymously, use the number 844-848-8477.
Meanwhile, state police remind the public that parked vehicles are popular targets at hiking areas and Vermont state parks. It’s best to either take valuables with you on the trail or leave them at home. Items such as purses, electronics, wallets with cash and credit or debit cards, jewelry, etc. are tempting even if they are not visible through windows.
Another tip: If you are a victim of this type of crime, immediately cancel debit or credit cards and contact credit reporting bureaus (Experian, Transunion, Equifax) to put a security freeze on your credit. Although troopers and local police patrol popular recreational spots, they also rely on the public to report any suspicious activity.