Couple nabbed in series of eastern Utah vehicle break-ins

A couple with extensive forgery, credit card fraud and drug-related criminal histories were being held in the Uintah County Jail on Monday after being arrested for allegedly stealing a car.

Assistant Vernal Police Chief Keith Campbell said the two — a 25-year-old man and a 33-year-old woman, both from Salt Lake City — were already suspects in a series of vehicle burglaries in the eastern Utah town when officers responded to a call reporting car theft on Friday.

Officers located the stolen car abandoned near a K-Mart store, and soon were able to identify the suspects as the couple.

After issuing their descriptions and identities to other law enforcement agencies in the state, the pair were arrested by officers during a traffic stop in Heber City, where they were passing through en route back to Salt Lake City, Campbell said.

It was not immediately determined if the vehicle the pair were in also was stolen.

However, investigators have linked the suspects to numerous vehicle thefts in which credit cards, checkbooks, mail, and other items of property were stolen. About $10,000 worth of methaphetamine also was seized as a result of the investigation, authorities said.

The two were booked into Uintah County Jail on suspicion of vehicle theft, theft, vehicle burglary, unlawful use of a financial transaction card and criminal mischief. Additional drug charges are possible.

remims@sltrib.com

Twitter: @remims