SILT – Silt police have arrested five 18-year-olds in connection with a rash of car break-ins Jan. 4.

The perpetrators allegedly went on the spree after attending an underage drinking party in Rifle.

Trevor Dylan Thompson of Rifle was arrested Wednesday and lodged in Garfield County Jail on charges of first-degree criminal trespass, felony theft and criminal solicitation, according to Silt police.

Ryan Michael Locke of Silt, Joshua David Long of Silt and Amanda Marie Vallad of New Castle were all arrested on Thursday on warrants charging them with conspiracy to commit felony theft, conspiracy to commit first-degree criminal trespass, criminal attempt of felony theft, and criminal attempt of first-degree criminal trespass, police said. Locke also was charged with possession of stolen property. All were taken to jail.

Jason Wayne Morrison was arrested Friday when he arrived to find officers serving a search warrant at his Rifle residence. He went to jail on charges of conspiracy and criminal attempt to commit first-degree criminal trespass and theft, and theft by receiving, and faces additional charges relating to marijuana and drug paraphernalia that were allegedly found in his home and car.

Police were dispatched just after 2 a.m. on Jan. 4 to the Eagle’s View subdivision in Silt on a call from a resident who reported chasing some youths he caught breaking into his truck. The offenders managed to escape after running to a waiting vehicle, but the victim managed to record the car’s license plate number, police said.

A number of other residents subsequently called to report that their vehicles had also been broken into and property had been stolen. A purse belonging to one of the victims was found nearby, along with a beer can that was believed to have been thrown away by one of the fleeing suspects.

The suspects reportedly passed over a number of vehicles that were locked, going after easy targets instead.

A police officer was able to collect tire track and other forensic evidence before locating the getaway vehicle in Rifle Village South just after 5 a.m. Jan. 4. The officer then reportedly learned that the five suspects left the party to go to Silt and go “car shopping,” or breaking into vehicles to steal property. It also was discovered that the same suspects allegedly broke into three vehicles and stole property at a home on County Road 210 after leaving Silt.

The officer was ultimately able to identify and interview all of the suspects, and obtained warrants for their arrests as well as a search warrant for Morrison’s home. Officers from Silt, Rifle and TRIDENT, the local drug enforcement task force, teamed up to serve the warrant. Some suspected stolen property was recovered at the home and from some of the suspects, police said.

Police said it was reported that one of those attending the party, in which both alcohol and drugs were allegedly available, was assaulted and knocked unconscious.

Police ask that any suspected underage drinking and drug use be reported to authorities, in hopes of early intervention preventing a tragedy.