Crater Lake ammo theft update: Reward raised, new video

(Updated: Adding more info on video)

Two weeks after the theft of thousands of rounds of rifle and pistol ammunition from a locked building at Crater Lake National Park, authorities have raised their reward to $5,000 and issued a blurry security video of a pickup truck sought in the case.

Rangers and special agents with the National Park Service’s Investigative Services Branch earlier had offered a reward of up to $1,000 for information leading to arrests and convictions in the ammunition theft, discovered around 7 a.m. on Feb. 6 from a locked building in the headquarters area of the park.

“Investigators are looking for any information that could help identify the occupant(s) of a pickup truck that was in the area around the same time the theft occurred,” Tuesday’s updated NPS release said.

The agency also released this video of the “possible witness vehicle,” taken at an entrance station to the park.

Evans said Wednesday the video was taken as the pickup truck was entering the park at the Annie Creek Entrance Station around 2:30 a.m. on Feb. 6, the day the theft was discovered.

“Rangers would like to identify the person or people driving the vehicle to determine if they have any information regarding the case,” she said.

When the crime and investigation was first announced, park spokeswoman Jennifer Evans.explained that the ammunition is used as part of the park’s law enforcement program.

“Law enforcement rangers use the ammunition in normal operations, such as training and certification,” she said..

Due to the ongoing investigation, Evans said she could not offer further details, such as the possible time frame of the theft, whether any weapons also were stored there, or if any surveillance cameras were in place.

However, Evans said the rangers train every six months and about five rangers are involved each time, using a total of about 1,000 rounds of ammunition.

The Oregonian reported the thieves stole about 10,000 rounds of ammunition, worth about $8,000.

Crater Lake, Oregon’s only national park, has five year-round law enforcement rangers and three to five seasonal ones during the summer, Evans said.

Anyone with information that could help investigators is asked to contact the Investigative Services Branch by phone, text, website, email or social media.

“If you have any information that could help investigators, please contact us,” the agency said Tuesday. “Though you may remain anonymous, investigators are offering up to $5,000 for information leading to the identification, arrest and conviction of those responsible.”

CALL the ISB Tip Line 888-653-0009

TEXT to 202-379-4761

ONLINE www.nps.gov/isb and click “Submit a Tip”

EMAIL nps_isb@nps.gov

MESSAGE Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/InvestigativeServicesNPS

Twitter: https://twitter.com/SpecialAgentNPS