The lift operators wouldn't let me hitch a lift down; I had to walk and
that
was a real pain. Took me 4 hrs in total to get back.

Sorry for your skis. It's always a really bad feeling.

Were u alone ? Couldn't a friend lend u his skis and then have them back
through another skier having a lift uphill ? Of course not if u had to trek
down.

Thefts are really unlikely to happen in those areas. When the thieves get
caught THEY usually call the police.

Enotrio