Cherry Creek, NY – The rash of summertime crime taking place in recent years at one western New York ski resort has continued this week with the theft of snowmaking equipment.

Resort officials discovered that 38 feet of snowmaking pipe and an SMI snow gun were taken from Cockaigne ski resort in Cherry Creek sometime in the past week, according to the Chautauqua County sheriff’s office. The snow gun alone is worth an estimated $5,000.

These thefts represent only the most recent loss to befall Cockaigne. In 2011 the resort was burglarized in August after vandals damaged a number of the ski area’s lifts in July , but these two incidents pale in comparison to the devastating fire that leveled the ski resort’s historic base lodge in February of that year. Cockaigne closed following that troublesome 2010-11 season, and its current owner, 84-year-old Jack VanScoter, is reportedly in discussions with several parties interested in purchasing and reopening the resort. The base lodge has not yet been rebuilt.

The Chautauqua County sheriff’s office is requesting that anyone with any information regarding the recent thefts contact 800-78-CRIME or provide confidential tips at (716) 753-4498 or (716) 753-2131.