Posts tagged arrested
Boulder police: 53 cars stolen in last six months
Jul 9th
Vehicle thefts are on the rise in Boulder, and police want to warn the public and share some tips to make sure that others don’t become victims of auto theft.
Between Jan. 1, 2012 and July 1, 2012, people reported 53 stolen vehicles in Boulder. So far this year, 43 of those autos have been recovered (81% recovery rate). During the same time period last year (Jan. 1 – July 1, 2011), there were 46 vehicles reported stolen, with 35 of them recovered (76% recovery rate).
While the recovery rates might seem like good news, many of the recovered vehicles were severely damaged by the thieves and some of the vehicles were not drivable. In several instances, drug paraphernalia was found inside the recovered cars. Some of the autos were found in Boulder, and others were located in nearby cities.
Most of these vehicle thefts have several things in common:
- The victim’s left their cars unlocked or the windows down.
- They left spare keys inside the unlocked car.
- There were valuables, such as purses, credit cards and electronics, in full view.
Thieves are usually looking for an easy steal. They want to work fast to start the car and then leave the area. Many of these thefts would not have occurred if the victims had simply locked their vehicles. Police offer some advice to keep your car secure:
- Always lock your car, even if it’s in your own driveway.
- Never leave a spare key in your car (that includes the valet key in your glove box).
- Don’t leave valuables (purses, wallets, cash, credit cards, and electronics) in view. It’s best to take them with you and not leave them in the car at all.
- Don’t leave your car running unattended, even to make a quick trip into a convenience store. This is exactly how at least one thief made off with a car this year in Boulder.
- Don’t leave your windows open – even cracked – when you park your vehicle.
- Park in well-lit areas. If you have a garage, use it. (And don’t leave the garage door open. Thieves may not get your car, but they’ll take whatever else they can easily steal).
- Consider an alarm, or a theft-deterrent/recovery system device like LoJack.
To date in 2012, Boulder police have made 13 arrests for auto theft. (One of the suspects is a teenager who is not old enough to obtain a driver’s license). From Jan. 1, 2011 to July 1, 2011, seven people were arrested. Police are continuing to investigate open cases.
If you are the victim of a vehicle theft, call police immediately. You may call 9-1-1, or the non-emergency Dispatch number at 303-441-3333. Police will need the make, model, year and color of your car, as well as the license plate number. They’ll also need to know when you believe car was stolen, and whether it was locked or unlocked at the time. Investigators will also ask whether you keep a spare key inside the vehicle.
Ron Baird's BLACK WIND a new thriller crime novel quality fiction
May 26th
Twenty seconds in a young man’s life has followed him like the shadow of a curse for 27 years. Did he crack under pressure or was it simply good reflexes? Aaron Hemingway still doesn’t know and nobody ever told him because the Army had buried it in a black hole.
But in an ironic twist of karma, it was those close to Aaron who paid the price. He sometimes questioned whether the two were connected, but after his 14-year-old daughter was taken hostage by a murder suspect and then watched three men die in her bloody rescue, that was pretty much the end of the argument Aaron, a former Denver cop and newspaper reporter.
So he became a recluse, avoiding people he cared about to protect them. But after three years of that, he was ready to eat his gun. Then an old friend called and offered him a temporary job as a small town deputy marshal. Knowing what was at risk, he nevertheless took the job.
Surprisingly, things seemed to be going well, including his handling of a couple of situations that were ripe for disaster. Then, in an unprovoked but not random attack, his dog was killed and his women friend was left in a coma with a gunshot wound to the head.
Aaron discovered the identity of the man behind the attack and, breaking a vow he made after Vietnam to never kill again unless in self-defense or to protect the innocent, he swore vengeance against the man. He only saw three outcomes: he would be killed, he would succeed and be arrested or he would get away with murder. In the Malpais lava fields of western New Mexico, he found that things are not always that simple.
Available at Book stores, Amazon and on Kindle for $9.00
Boulder cops arrest one of their own
May 3rd
Boulder police have issued an arrest warrant for Boulder police officer Christian McCracken, who has been in custody at the Broomfield County Jail since he was arrested last weekend on domestic violence-related charges.
McCracken had previously sustained a head injury at the hands of Trevan Hunter, a CU student who’d refuse to to leave The Sink, a popular Boulder restaurant, or pay his $3 bar tab.
McCracken was arrested by Broomfield police in the early morning hours of Saturday, April 28 after allegedly stalking and harassing his ex-girlfriend and her new boyfriend, both of whom are dispatchers at the Boulder Police Department.
At the time of McCracken’s arrest, Boulder police began a criminal investigation into information that he may have planned and taken a significant step toward committing a homicide against the new boyfriend. After consultation with the District Attorney’s Office, it was agreed that probable cause existed to obtain an additional arrest warrant.
- Trevan Hunter caused McCracken to sustain a head injury during his arrest.
“While we are concerned and saddened by the need to arrest one of our own officers, we are primarily focused with the safety of our employees and members of the community,” said Boulder Police Chief Mark Beckner. “As information became available, it became increasingly apparent that we needed to act quickly. Our detectives, in partnership with the District Attorney’s Office, did a great job in putting this case together.”
McCracken was arrested at the Broomfield County Jail this morning on new charges of suspicion of Attempted First Degree Murder (one count), two counts of Stalking and one count of Harassment.
The case number is 12-5679.
At this time, McCracken will remain in custody at the Broomfield County Jail. His bond has been set at $500,000. Boulder police are also conducting an internal personnel investigation into the case.