An eyewitness and a cell phone could hold the key to solving a string of nighttime burglaries along state Highways 19 and 20 last week.
A $50,000 piece of heavy equipment as well as a inflatable boat and motor worth $5,000 were taken, and four airplanes were broken into.
Up to $8,000 in reward money is being offered for information in the case, and law enforcement officials are asking the public to report anything suspicious they saw Tuesday night or Wednesday morning.
“We’d like to talk to anyone who saw anything in that area Tuesday night or Wednesday morning,” said Jefferson County Undersheriff Ken Sukert.
Port Townsend police are also involved in the investigation because one of the thefts happened inside the city limit.
The cellular phone was located near where a boat trailer, stolen from Port Townsend Honda, was recovered on Larry Scott Trail off Mill Road.
Port Townsend Honda is located at the intersection of Highway 20 and Mill Road.
“It could be a coincidence,” said Sgt. Ed Green of the Port Townsend Police Department.
“We want to talk to the owner of the cell phone, but we can’t tie it in.”
Jim Minish, owner of Port Townsend Honda, said the inflatable boat and motor valued at $5,000 were stolen from the business.
Minish said the boat and trailer, belonging to a customer, had been chained to the back of his business. The chain was cut, he said.
A neighbor who witnessed the theft told Minish which direction the thieves took the equipment, and the dealer recovered the trailer.