BOISE -- The Bureau of Land Management and Forest Service is offering a $500 reward for information that will help them catch the persons responsible for breaking into and stealing money from the fee tubes in the Payette River Recreation Area between Deadwood River and Horseshoe Bend.

Officials say the thefts occurred at two of the boat launch sites, Beehive Bend and Confluence.  The fee tubes used by boaters and picnicking visitors are provided for collection of a daily fee of $3 for the use of parking, restroom, picnicking, and boating facilities.

Officials estimate that about $600 in cash and checks was stolen from the fee tubes at these two sites.  It cost about $800 to repair the damage. 

The day-use fees are collected along the entire Payette River System and retained locally by the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management. 

The funds pay for facility maintenance such as pumping and cleaning toilets and dressing rooms, trash pickup, signing, weeding, and keeping drying pads and ramps clean and functional. 

If you have any information about the thefts, please call Crime Stoppers at 343-2677 or Forest Service law enforcement at 373-4195.