A man and woman believed to be linked to at least 17 recent theft victims at Mat-Su trailheads were arrested Friday, Alaska State Troopers said.
In early January, the troopers’ Criminal Suppression Unit from Palmer launched an investigation into what the department described in an online statement as a “massive amount of thefts occurring at the Mat-Su Valley trailheads.” Troopers did not immediately respond to messages Sunday about how many thefts there had been.
Troopers saw a woman peering into vehicles at the Crevasse-Moraine parking lot on Friday just before 6 p.m., the statement said. The Crevasse-Moraine trailhead leads into a number of nordic ski trails in Palmer. The woman initially told troopers an incorrect name and provided a wrong ID card, but troopers said she was eventually identified as 34-year-old Jessica Rose Jones of Kenai.
Troopers said 31-year-old Paul Joseph Ahrens of Palmer was also arrested after further investigation.
“A subsequent search warrant yielded approximately 17 identification cards, including Passports, Military ID cards, Voter’s Registration Cards and Drivers Licenses, and multiple cell phones connected to victims of the trail head thefts,” troopers wrote. “34 gift cards and debit cards were also seized.”
Both Ahrens and Jones were wanted on outstanding felony warrants. Jones was wanted for failing to comply with her probation terms on convictions for theft, forgery and fraudulent use of an access device, troopers said. Ahrens had a warrant for failing to comply with his probation terms for four previous theft convictions and convictions for scheme to defraud and tampering with evidence.
Both Ahrens and Jones were arrested in connection with the trailhead thefts and are facing a charge of second-degree theft. Jones is facing a misdemeanor charge for false info or reporting and Ahrens is facing a misdemeanor charge of violating conditions of release. Troopers said Saturday that additional charges are expected for both people.
Troopers wrote in the statement that the victims will be contacted to have their property returned.