Bismarck police are investigating a spree of vehicle thefts and thefts from vehicles.

Though the incidents all occurred over the weekend, there isn't much to connect them, Sgt. Dwight Offerman said.

"At this point, it's anybody's guess whether any of these were related,"he said.

In one case, a 1988 Olds 88 Royale was reported stolen at 6:44 a.m. Saturday from the 1500 block of East Rosser, Offerman said. The keys had been left in the unlocked vehicle, which was taken between 6 p.m. Friday and 6 a.m. Saturday.

The owner of the vehicle spotted it at the intersection of 12th Street and Bismarck Expressway around 3 p.m. Saturday. He went up to the vehicle and took the keys out of the ignition, Offerman said.

The person driving the car ran away, toward Colonial Estates mobile home court, he said.

The man is described as 6-feet-3-inches tall, 200 pounds with blond hair, Offerman said.

At least 11 other cases were investigated over the weekend.

n A Honda dirt bike was stolen from a garage on the 200 block of West Century. It was not reported stolen until 12:37 a.m. Sunday, but police had already recovered it at 6:51 a.m. Saturday near a bike path on the 700 block of Riverwood Drive.

n Someone on the 900 block of Constitution Drive called to report someone was stealing a 2000 Honda Accord at 1:50 a.m. Sunday. The vehicle had been pushed out of a driveway and started on Ninth Street, and police arrived as the car took off. Police pursued the vehicle but were not able to stop it. It was located on the 1700 block of North Eighth Street a short time later, though police were unable to find the suspect. The person who took the car was wearing a black shirt, a white, backward cap and a white bandanna around his face.

n Someone stole a 1993 Chevy Suburban from the 1100 block of Hillside Terrace Saturday night or Sunday morning. The vehicle's keys were inside a cupholder, and $100 in gas gift cards also were inside.

n A 1985 Ford LTD was reported stolen from the 400 block of North 15th Street. The theft occurred between 12:30 p.m. and 1 p.m. Sunday. A neighbor reported seeing someone "lurking" around the neighborhood, Offerman said. The person was described as wearing a green hat, white T-shirt and blue jeans and was "very skinny" with shoulder-length sandy blond hair.

n A1997 Olds Cutlass with three firearms inside was stolen from the 400 block of West Century between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. Sunday. The vehicle was located in south Bismarck at 7:39 p.m., and the person driving was arrested.

Paxton Strand, 19, was charged Monday with multiple counts of theft of property.

South Central District Judge Gail Hagerty set bond for Strand at $15,000 cash at the request of Burleigh County Assistant State's Attorney Lloyd Suhr. Suhr said Strand's bond on another case was reduced last week, allowing for his release.

n A black, beaded purse, containing $70, was stolen from a vehicle on the 2100 block of East Boulevard. The vehicle was unlocked.

n Several reports of thefts from motor vehicles and a theft of a motor vehicle came from the area of two north Bismarck hotels. Two vehicles at Hampton Inn, 1440 Mapleton Ave., were broken into, and two vehicles at Country Inn and Suites, 3205 N 14th St., were broken into. One of the vehicles broken into at Country Inn and Suites, a 1998 Chevy Blazer, was stolen. A purse taken from the vehicle was found abandoned at Hampton Inn. Someone apparently was cut while breaking a window on a vehicle at Hampton Inn, and blood was found in several other vehicles.

(Reach reporter Jenny Michael at 250-8225 or jenny.michael@;bismarcktribune.com.)