Thieves Leave Backpack Behind After Delta Junction Burglary

A pair of thieves were temporarily caught in the act this week in Delta Junction but escaped.

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By Fairbanks Daily News-Miner

Story Created: Jul 13, 2011 at 2:35 PM AKDT

Story Updated: Jul 13, 2011 at 2:35 PM AKDT

FAIRBANKS — A pair of thieves were temporarily caught in the act this week in Delta Junction but escaped.

About 3 a.m. Monday, the son of the owner of the sweet shop Diehl’s Delights stopped by the store to find two men loading backpacks with merchandise, according to Alaska State Troopers.

The store owner’s son told troopers the men pushed him over and escaped out the door. But they left something behind — a faded brown backpack with a Coors Light and pistol zipper pull. Troopers are asking for help finding the owner of the backpack.

The thieves are reportedly young, tall white men. One is about 6 feet 2 inches tall and 170 pounds. The other is about 6 feet tall and 150 pounds, said Sgt. Jason Pugh, with the troopers in Delta. They had their faces covered.

Since June 24, Delta has experienced three suspected arsons and about eight unsolved burglaries.

Some of the burglaries also involved vandalism. Crooks have targeted homes, stores, a church and, most recently, the Delta Junction fairgrounds. Troopers reported they broke into several fair buildings and took paper plates and peanut butter from the Lions Club.

Troopers are developing suspects, but have not brought in anyone for questioning, Pugh said.

He said he is not convinced the recent arsons are connected to recent burglaries, or even that the same people are behind all of the burglaries.

Local residents can help by reporting anything suspicious, keeping doors locked and not leaving keys in ignitions, he said.

The local troopers post is being assisted by Alaska Deputy Fire Marshal Chris Grooms, who came to Delta after each fire and determined they were intentionally set. Two of the fires occurred on the same property.

A trooper forensics technician in Anchorage is helping analyze the evidence from the burglaries.

Delta Junction is about 95 road miles southeast of Fairbanks. The area is home to about 4,500 people.

Contact staff writer Sam Friedman at 459-7545.

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