Local burglaries and thefts create cause for vigilance

SEELEY LAKE – The Missoula County Sheriff’s Office investigated several burglaries in the past couple of weeks. While it is still unknown if any are connected, Missoula County Sergeant Bob Parcell said he expects old burglaries that happened over the winter to be reported by returning seasonal cabin and homeowners.

Parcell said the burglary reported April 11 on Boy Scout Road happened sometime after Dec. 15, 2020.

“It is probably an old one, just now discovered,” Parcell wrote in an email.

April 15, out-of-town homeowners watched in real time on their security system as two individuals broke into their home on Bitterroot Drive on the Double Arrow Ranch. Even though Deputy Heath Hanson was close and responded, the victims did not know how to contact 911 Dispatch from out of the area. Instead they called their neighbor who then called 911.

“This meant there was a greater time lag than was first thought,” Parcell wrote. “In any case, the video is a great help.”

The video and still shots of the burglars have been posted to community social media pages. If you have any information or can identify the individuals please call the Sheriff’s Office at 406-258-4810.

The burglary reported April 16 on Highway 83 occurred overnight in the middle of town. Parcell said so far, only one item was reported stolen.

“The burglaries could be connected but that is just not known for sure at this time,” Parcell wrote. 

The stolen vehicle reported March 3 was not connected to the recent burglaries. Parcell said a man from Wyoming wanted to trade an Arctic Cat ATV for a Seeley Lake resident’s pickup. That was the agreement, however when the Wyoming man took the pickup back to Wyoming to load up the ATV and come back, he never returned. The open title he gave to the Seeley Lake resident turned out to be stolen from a ranch in Wyoming. 

“All residents in the Seeley-Swan area need to remain vigilant and conscientious in securing their property,” Parcell wrote. “Also, the nosy neighbor is the best neighbor. Be interested in what is going on around you and report things that “just don’t look right” (JDLR). Also, remember that if something looks too good to be true, it most likely is too good to be true.”  

 

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