A rancher in Moffat County called 9-1-1 for help after interrupting a burglary in progress at his home. According to the Moffat County Sheriff’s Office, the rancher reported encountering a male inside his home and discovered multiple firearms had been stolen. The suspect fled the residence northbound into Wyoming in a silver passenger vehicle. Deputies and investigators with the Moffat County Sheriff’s Office responded immediately. While investigators processed the crime scene, deputies canvassed the area, including into Wyoming, in an effort to locate the suspect vehicle. Assisted by a Wyoming Highway Patrol trooper, Moffat County deputies located the suspect vehicle concealed at an abandoned residence on Wyoming County Road 722. The suspect left the residence in the silver passenger vehicle, driving over a tire deflation device. The man, identified as 78-year-old Tom Piantes of Utah, stopped and was taken into custody without incident. All stolen firearms were recovered from the Wyoming residence.
