Ski and snowboard registry targets theft

PARK CITY — The skis sit on the racks just off the slopes here at the Deer Valley Resort, making a tempting target for a thief. Even in full view of two uniformed officers, Park City police acknowledge it's possible for someone to pick up a pair and walk off without police ever knowing who the real owner is.

"They make thousands of Rossignol Back-Country skis," said officer Kris Phillips. "Most ski thefts are crimes of opportunity. You just grab it and leave."

The Park City Police Department is trying to prevent more ski thefts by creating a special registry. It allows skiers and snowboarders to register their gear with police, who will keep the serial numbers on file should the equipment come up missing.

On a recent Saturday, two Park City police officers manned a table outside Deer Valley's Snowpark Lodge, signing up skiers coming off the slopes. People filled out a registration form, including listing the serial number engraved on the skis. Then, officers handed them a red metallic sticker with a number on it. They put the sticker on the skis when they dry, making it tough to remove. It's free to register.

"I think it's great," said John Glass who was vacationing in Park City from Phoenix. He signed up his pair of Salomons with police. "You hear of skis being stolen. I just have my name on a sticker, but if you see 'police' on a sticker, maybe they'll leave them alone."

Last year, Park City Police had more than 40 reported ski thefts. Only one pair of skis were recovered, Phillips said.

"They make so many of the same type of skis. I searched pawn shops but couldn't come up with anything," he said. "I thought, why not create some kind of registry?"

Another problem is most people don't know their skis already come with a serial number, said Sgt. Bill Morris.

"People don't write down the serial number. This forces them to do it," he said. When a pair of skis are reported stolen and turn up later, police can recover them because they have the serial number in a database. The serial number is also placed on the stolen property list on the National Crime Information Center. The sticker serves as a visible deterrent to would-be thieves, police said.

Phillips came up with the registry after a Utah County teen was arrested last month for trying to sell more than a dozen sets of skis stolen from the Park City Mountain Resort. Police said a ski theft victim found his stolen skis up for auction on eBay and called police. Officers arrested the teen and recovered six sets of skis. Since then, police said they have linked the teen to the thefts of 15 skis and five snowboards.