Thieves Make Off With Wagon Wheels From Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument

June 15, 2010

Wagon wheel rustlers?

That seems to be the case at Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument, where thieves have made off with six wagon wheels from two historic wagons that have been on display at the Hornbek Homestead.

With hopes of recovering the wooden wheels, the Friends of the Florissant Fossil Beds is offering a $1,000 reward for information that leads to the recovery of the wagon wheels and the arrest and conviction of the thieves.

Monument officials say that sometime during the night of June 10 six wagon wheels were stolen from two historic wagons on display at the Hornbek Homestead, which dates to 1878. Two additional wheels were destroyed when the thieves attempted to remove them from the wagons, they said, adding that both wagons were damaged in the process.

The theft of these cultural artifacts is a significant loss to the regional history that The National Park Service attempts to preserve at Florissant Fossil Beds, the monument officials said.

If you have any information about the theft, you're asked to contact Chief Ranger Rick Wilson at Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument at (719) 748-3253 extension 131, or the Teller County Sheriff’s Office at (719)687-9652.

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