Colorado Fly Shops Hit by Thieves

Angling Trade Magazine is reporting that several Colorado fly shops have been targeted by a "well orchestrated" band of thieves.

"Suspects are two couples, Middle Eastern or Latin in appearance, well groomed and dressed fashionably. One couple distracts the store staff while the other steals merchandise. Suspects have called ahead and verified that you are indeed a specialty fly shop. Cell phone area codes that have been used are (402) and (815). A Maroon passenger van with an Illinois license plate # K714 248 was used by the suspects."

Check out the full article in Angling Trade for a photo of one of the suspects.

Fly Shop Bandit Arrested

9News.com is reporting that the alleged fly shop bandito who was ripping off fly shops has been arrested largely in part to the power of the intertubes.

Long used the blog on his fly fishing shop Web site to alert others of the thefts. The tight knit fly fishing community quickly responded.

"We got a lot. I think to date we've probably received over a dozen and a half tips," Long said.
That awareness may have paid off.

Police in Lakewood arrested a man believed to be the suspect in the case when he walked into a pawn shop and tried to sell several of the reels. Police are not releasing the man's name or details on his arrest at this time. Lakewood Police are working with police from four other jurisdictions where the thefts took place to put together a case.

BOLO: Denver Fly Shops Robbed

Via the Hook Fly Fishing Blog comes this report of an alleged roving fly shop rip-off artist. Several Denver, CO fly shops have been hit in the past few weeks. Be sure to watch the video link.