DEXTER – Thieves have hit the town hard this month.

About $1,700 worth of tools and equipment were stolen Thursday from the town’s highway garage.

Earlier this month, several hangars at the municipal airport were broken into. DJ equipment, an air compressor, an ultralight aircraft engine, a generator and hand tools were reported stolen from the privately owned hangars. Padlocks were cut or doors were forced open to gain entry.

Hoping to help solve the break-ins, a resident on Friday posted a $500 reward for the arrest and conviction of the thieves from either break-in.

“I’m just so pleased people are stepping forward to help solve these crimes,” Dexter Town Manager Judy Doore said Friday.

Doore said entry into the highway garage on Railroad Avenue on Thursday night was gained by breaking a latch on an overhead door. She said the garage had been the scene of two earlier attempted break-ins.

Items stolen from the garage included three chain saws, two drills, miscellaneous hand tools, state inspection stickers and the supporting records for the stickers.

The town had the stickers because it conducts its own inspections for town vehicles, Doore said.

Anyone with information about the break-ins should contact the Dexter Police Department at 924-7622.

Diana Bowley may be reached at dianabdn@verizon.net or 876-4579.