An Anchorage snowmachine and ATV salvage store appears to be the latest retailer caught up in a theft trend.
An Alaska Snowmobile Salvage employee alerted co-owner Todd Anderson on Fri. morning thieves had hit his store, stealing and damaging an estimated $20,000 in merchandise and products they were repairing.
“They had come through here like a bull in a china shop,” Anderson says. “There was a glass case right there. They shattered that. Stole a bunch of stuff…including four motorcycles. Two of those were customer rigs. I felt really bad.”
Security footage shows two men ransacking the south Anchorage shop. Anderson later recognized one of them as a man who had applied for a mechanic position hours earlier, and called him Fri. to find out if he would be getting the job.
“There are some really dumb criminals out there,” Anderson laughs. “No. I’m not going to hire that guy.”
Anderson and his co-owner posted security footage of what appeared to be the getaway truck on Facebook. A massive response led them to Jim Creek where Anderson says state troopers confiscated what appear to be the stolen goods.
Between 2008 and 2010, the most recent reporting year the Anchorage Police Dept. provides, the FBI’s Uniform Crime Report shows Anchorage thefts increasing by 924. The same report shows national thefts decreasing by 4 percent between Jan. and July 2011. And in cities with similar populations to Anchorage, the crime is also decreasing by 1.1 percent.
Since the beginning of May, Anchorage police and Alaska state troopers have investigated thefts of the expensive recreational vehicle ‘razors,’ catalytic converters, and even one man’s giant eagle carving taken right out of the back of his truck.
“I think people with the economy are doing stupid things,” Anderson says.
Because troopers located the stolen goods faster than warrants could be issued, suspects in the case have not been arrested yet. Anderson says one of the men seen on surveillance footage has still not been located.
“Lock your toys up,” Anderson warns. “Spend the $15 on a cable...and a pad lock, and lock the stuff up.”
Anderson says the store’s insurance policy will cover all stolen and damaged good. If you have any information about this theft, call Anchorage police at 786-8900.
Email Matthew Simon.
