GREEN RIVER - The Sweetwater County Sheriff's Office is urging people not to pick up hitchhikers as members of the Rainbow Family head through the county for this year's gathering in the Big Sandy area.

Sheriff Rich Haskell says most people headed to the gathering in Sublette County are passing through Sweetwater County. He says there are good reasons why hitchhiking and picking up hitchhikers are illegal.

Haskell says anyone who stops for a hitchhiker can suddenly be confronted by five more people emerging from the brush.

He says people should take care to keep their homes and vehicles locked up. He also says they should not hesitate to call in suspicious activity.