Three Arrested in Vermont Vehicle Theft Spree

Suspects stole ATVs and UTVs from multiple locations in Brandon, Rutland Town, and Sudbury.

Apr. 7, 2026 at 2:53am

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An extreme close-up photograph of a damaged ATV or UTV part, such as a broken taillight or cracked dashboard, lit by a harsh, direct camera flash against a pitch-black background, conceptually illustrating the physical evidence of vehicle theft.Damaged off-road vehicle parts recovered by police expose the gritty reality of rural vehicle theft.Rutland Today

Vermont State Police have arrested three men in connection with the theft of multiple off-road vehicles, including an ATV stolen from a residence in Brandon and a Polaris UTV stolen from a powersports dealership in Rutland. The suspects, Gary Forrest Jr., Joshua Lester, and Travis Bovey, face charges including grand larceny, possession of stolen property, and violation of conditions of release.

Why it matters

Vehicle thefts, especially of high-value off-road recreational vehicles, are an ongoing problem in rural Vermont communities. These arrests demonstrate law enforcement's efforts to crack down on organized theft rings targeting local businesses and residents.

The details

On March 30, 2026, Vermont State Police received a tip about the location of an ATV stolen from a Brandon residence on March 28. Troopers recovered the stolen ATV and linked it to the theft of a Polaris UTV from Pinnacle Motor Sports in Rutland on March 22. Police arrested Gary Forrest Jr. and Joshua Lester for the thefts. Lester was also charged with violating his court-ordered 24/7 home confinement. On April 1, police executed a search warrant at Lester's home and recovered the stolen UTV. The owner of Boondock Motors in Sudbury, Travis Bovey, was cited for possessing the stolen UTV.

  • On March 28, 2026, an ATV was stolen from a residence in Brandon.
  • On March 22, 2026, a Polaris UTV was stolen from Pinnacle Motor Sports in Rutland.
  • On March 30, 2026, police received a tip about the location of the stolen ATV.
  • On April 1, 2026, police executed a search warrant at Joshua Lester's residence and recovered the stolen UTV.
  • On April 5, 2026, police arrested Gary Forrest Jr. at his residence.

The players

Chad Ringey

The 53-year-old owner of the ATV stolen from his Brandon residence.

Gary Forrest Jr.

A 51-year-old Brandon resident arrested for the theft of the ATV and UTV.

Joshua Lester

A 35-year-old Brandon resident arrested for the theft of the ATV and UTV, and for violating his court-ordered home confinement.

Travis Bovey

The 40-year-old owner of Boondock Motors in Sudbury, cited for possessing the stolen UTV.

George Welch

The 56-year-old Rutland Town resident who owned the stolen UTV recovered from Boondock Motors.

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What’s next

The suspects will appear in Rutland County Criminal Court to face charges related to the vehicle thefts.

The takeaway

These arrests demonstrate law enforcement's efforts to crack down on organized theft rings targeting local businesses and residents in Vermont's rural communities.