RANGELEY – Police are investigating the theft of hundreds of dollars in coins from a Winter Road residence.

The homeowner left for work at about 5 a.m. Monday and returned about 7 p.m. When he went to put his pocket change in a large, clear water jug, like a Poland Spring bottle, as he always does, the bottle was gone, police Chief Phil Weymouth said.

The bottle had stood in the living room of the home and was visible from the doorway, he said.

It appears someone came in through an unlocked door and took the bottle, Weymouth said.

The man estimates that there was about $400 in coins in the container, the chief said.

Police are asking store owners and others to be on the watch for anyone who comes in with a lot of rolled coins or loose change. They can call police at 864-3579.

Police also hit the trails after a snowmobile accident occurred between two sleds on Boy Scout Road, off Route 16 in Oquossoc, recently when a warden was unavailable to respond.

Gary Winters, 53, of North Attleboro, Mass., was traveling on the trail on a 2006 Arctic Cat when a 1996 Ski-Doo operated by William Dennison, 23, of Harrison did a U-turn on the trail and turned into Winters’ path, Weymouth said.

The collision happened about 1 mile into the woods.

Winters complained of pain. He was treated at the scene by medics but declined transport to a hospital, Weymouth said.