Two teenagers from Kalispell are suspects in a string of Bigfork burglaries.

Severin Gislason, 18, has already been arrested and charged in Flathead District Court with seven felonies.

A warrant has been issued for 18-year-old Shane Christensen, but he has not yet been located.

Gislason is charged with six counts of felony burglary and one count of felony deceptive practices.

Bond for Gislason initially was set at $60,000, but he was released on informal house arrest following his initial appearance Wednesday before Flathead Justice of the Peace Mark Sullivan.

According to Flathead County Sheriff Chuck Curry, an investigation into the crime spree is ongoing, with further crimes continuing to be uncovered and further charges possible.  

An outpouring of tips from the public led to the arrest of Gislason, and Curry hopes that will continue as his office searches for Christensen.

“We received numerous calls identifying both individuals,” Curry said. “We were able to locate Severin, however we have been unable to locate Christensen. He is most likely fully aware that we are looking for him and is evading us.”

Curry said both men have ties to Bigfork, where many of their crimes occurred.

They are alleged to have burglarized Bigfork United Rentals, The Senior Center, Albiero Chiropractic, Waterstreet Co., Clayton’s Dentist Office and Nielsen Electric during the night of Feb. 18. Among the items stolen were cash drawers and a credit card, which was taken from the rental business.

Curry said none of the stolen items have been recovered.

The pair were identified based on a security image of them walking into the Kalispell Walmart store. The stolen credit card was used at Walmart.

A court document states that after being arrested at his home, Gislason admitted using the credit card and knowing that it was stolen. He denied being involved in the burglaries, but the tread of the shoes he was wearing allegedly matched a tread pattern located on several of the doors kicked in during the burglaries.

According to Curry, Gislason and Christensen used the credit card to put $5,000 into one of their PayPal accounts and they then spent a further $3,000 to $4,000.

If convicted of all seven charges, Gislason faces up to 130 years in the Montana State Prison as well as a fine of up to $350,000 as well as restitution.

Anyone with information on Christensen’s possible whereabouts is asked to call the Sheriff’s Office at 758-5585 or Flathead Crimestoppers at 752-8477.

Reporter Jesse Davis may be reached at 758-4441 or by email at jdavis@dailyinterlake.com.