A Smeltertown facility used as a commercial marijuana grow operation was the target of burglars early Friday morning.  Several mature marijuana plants with an undisclosed value were removed by the thieves whose identities remain unknown.

At about 4:50am Friday, sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to the facility known as Nature’s Medicine on County Road 150 on the report of an intrusion alarm at that location.  There they were met by the owner of the facility who had arrived shortly before the officers.  After searching the building and determining that no suspect was present, deputies observed that the front door had been jimmied open.  Telephone and electrical equipment also had been damaged, apparently by the suspect in an unsuccessful attempt to thwart the alarm system.

The crime scene was processed for evidence by Deputy Jeff Stephens of the sheriff’s office Crime Scene Response Team.  Although no arrests have been made in the case, investigators are working on several promising leads.

Chaffee County Crime Stoppers is offering a cash reward of up to $1,000 for information leading to the arrest of the persons responsible for the crime.  Callers are not required to identify themselves to be eligible to collect the reward.  The Crime Stoppers hotline is 719-539-5299. 

The investigation is assigned to Detective Sergeant Andy Rohrich who can be reached at 719-530-5729.