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Ashley Jamele, of Thetford, walks with her son Auggie, 3, at Treasure Island, the Thetford, Vt,. town beach in Fairlee, Vt., on Monday, June 23, 2025. Beach officials alleged on Facebook that money was stolen from the site on Friday evening. (Valley News – James M. Patterson) Copyright Valley News. May not be reprinted or used online without permission. Send requests to permission@vnews.com. -
A sign at Treasure Island, Thetford’s town beach in Fairlee, Vt., notifies visitors on Monday, June 23, 2025, that the site is monitored by cameras. Beach officials alleged on Facebook that three individuals entered the beach on Friday evening, distracted the attendant and stole money. (Valley News – James M. Patterson) Copyright Valley News. May not be reprinted or used online without permission. Send requests to permission@vnews.com. -
Dezarae Durkee, of West Fairlee, said that the lock on a door at Wings Market and Deli, in Fairlee, Vt., where she was at work on Monday, June 23, 2025, had to be changed after someone broke in early Sunday morning. (Valley News – James M. Patterson) Copyright Valley News. May not be reprinted or used online without permission. Send requests to permission@vnews.com. -
Brian Campion, of Thetford, walks into Baker Grocery Store, on Monday, June 23, 2025, where there was a break-in ten days prior. Rocky Patel, the store’s manager, said that a small amount of cash was stolen from the store after someone entered through a window on Friday, June 13. There was also a break-in over the weekend at the Bradford Golf Club where Campion frequently plays. (Valley News – James M. Patterson) Copyright Valley News. May not be reprinted or used online without permission. Send requests to permission@vnews.com.
WEST FAIRLEE — Officials at Treasure Island, the Thetford-owned beach on Lake Fairlee off of Route 244, took to social media in search of assistance in locating the culprits behind a Friday evening theft of an undisclosed amount of money.
Meanwhile, in nearby Fairlee, police are looking for assistance in identifying the suspects in an attempted break-in that took place early Sunday morning at Wing’s Market and Deli on Route 5, a nine-minute drive from Treasure Island.
Reached Monday, Treasure Island manager Megan Dubuque declined to comment on the Friday night theft.
But, in the social media post, beach officials allege that two women and one man entered the site at approximately 6:45 p.m. on Friday in a black Volvo with New Hampshire license plates.
After distracting the gate attendant, the three suspects exited the beach with money taken from the site.
The man was “of average height” and “heavy set” with a buzz cut, according to the social media post. One female suspect was approximately 5 feet, 4 inches tall, with “dark hair,” “heavy set,” and dressed in shorts and a black bathing suit. The other female suspect had gray shoulder length hair and needed assistance walking.
The Thetford Police Department and Vermont State Police did not respond to requests for comment by deadline on Monday.
As of Monday, the site appeared undamaged. The social media post indicated that “extra security and personnel will be added” in response to the theft.
Following the theft, brown paper had been placed over the right-side window of the Treasure Island kiosk to prevent people from looking inside.
Treasure Island, which offers day and season passes as well as pedal boat rentals, accepts cash, check and card payments.
The beach is open from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day weekend. Its hours of operation are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily.
Residents living near the Lake Fairlee beach site or people who were at the beach on Friday are encouraged to contact Treasure Island with information they may have about the case.
Beach officials can be reached at treasureisland@thetfordvt.gov or 802-333-3278.
On Sunday, the Wing’s Market and Deli alarm system was triggered at 1:54 a.m., Fairlee Police Chief Wayne Briggs said in a Monday phone interview.
The store was not damaged in the incident, except for the lock on the front door, which was broken and has since been repaired.
Briggs said he suspects the perpetrators attempted to “pry open” the market’s front door, but fled the scene when the store’s alarm system was triggered.
Wing’s Market and Deli, which stocks groceries, snacks and alcoholic beverages, is open from 6:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.
The market’s owner, Sam Adams, declined to comment on Monday.
The identities and number of the suspects is unknown.
Briggs said he’s “hoping someone calls in” with information regarding the identity of the suspects.
Briggs can be reached at the Fairlee Town Hall by calling 802-333-4383 ext. 6.
Marion Umpleby can be reached at mumpleby@vnews.com or 603-727-3306.
