Posts tagged purses
ID thieves targeting vehicles, cops say
Feb 6th
Boulder police are reminding residents to lock their vehicle doors and to remember to take valuable items, such as purses and wallets, with them when leaving vehicles unattended.
The theft ring is believed to be involved in three cases in Boulder and more than 50 cases in other jurisdictions. So far, the thieves are responsible for approximately $100,000 in thefts. (Boulder police case numbers are: 14-1105, 14-1101 and 14-1475).
Investigators believe that at least two male suspects forcibly enter victim vehicles by breaking windows and then stealing purses and wallets, which were left in clearly visible areas of the cars. The suspects then deposit and cash the victim’s checks using the stolen IDs and often use wigs and other disguises when dealing with banks.
It’s believed the suspects are using newer-model SUVs when they make deposits at drive-up bank windows. Some of the vehicles used include a new, mint-green Ford Explorer with tinted windows; a white SUV and a black Infinity SUV.
Photos of suspects who appear to be females are attached and police are asking the public for help in identifying them. It’s possible that the suspects in the photos are wearing wigs or are otherwise disguised.
During the past two weeks, the suspects have trespassed vehicles and stolen IDs every single day somewhere in the Denver metro area.
Anyone with information about the crimes or the suspects is asked to call the Boulder Police Department at 303-441-3333 or to email us at BouldersMostWanted@bouldercolorado.gov. Those who have information but wish to remain anonymous may contact the Northern Colorado Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or 1-800-444-3776. Tips can also be submitted through the Crime Stoppers website at www.crimeshurt.com. Those submitting tips through Crime Stoppers that lead to the arrest and filing of charges on a suspect(s) may be eligible for a cash reward of up to $1,000 from Crime Stoppers.
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Serial killer identified 4 years after his death
Jun 10th
Case Summary
On July 1, 1982, several fishermen discovered the decomposing body of a female in a ravine near the 32,000 block of Boulder Canyon Drive in unincorporated Boulder County. Investigators found that the victim, 20 year-old Susan Becker, had sustained 13 stab wounds to her torso and neck and died from her injuries. A black handled knife, believed to have belonged to Ms. Becker was found near her right hand; it was later determined that the knife had not caused the wounds to Ms. Becker. The body was clothed at the time that it was discovered and was covered with a towel, presumably placed there by her assailant. Some of Ms. Becker’s personal effects were found in a day pack with the body.
Ms. Becker was raised in the Boulder area and frequently spent time in Boulder Canyon sunbathing. She was last seen in Boulder by a friend sometime during the morning of June 20, 1982.
At the time, Sheriff’s detectives were unable to identify a suspect in Ms. Becker’s death. Mr. John Agrue figured as a person of interest in the investigation, however, declined to cooperate with investigators. His extended family was interviewed by detectives, and statements indicating that Agrue had hiked in the area where Becker’s body was found were provided, however, there was not enough evidence to link him to Ms. Becker’s murder.
John Agrue had been previously convicted in the 1966 murder of his 14 year old sister-in-law, Susan Marino, in Illinois He was paroled in January 1982 after serving 16 years of a 20-50 year indeterminate sentence and moved to Boulder, and then to Longmont shortly thereafter.
On July 9, 1982, 94-year-old Orma Smith’s body was found in the Big Elks Meadows area, south of Estes Park, Colorado. Ms. Smith resided in Longmont; John Agrue was her neighbor at the time of her death. Larimer County Sheriff’s investigators were unable to link him to Ms. Smith’s murder at the time.
On July 15, 1982, Agrue attempted to abduct a 26 year-old female student at knife point while she was starting her car on the University of Colorado Campus in Boulder. The student was able to flag down a passing University employee who rendered assistance. Agrue was arrested and convicted of the crime.
After serving his sentence in the Colorado Department of Corrections for the attempted abduction, Agrue was returned to Illinois in 1984 to complete his sentence for the murder of his sister in law, his parole having been revoked following his conviction in Colorado. After his release in 1989, he lived in Illinois, where he died in 2009 after an accidental drug overdose. Subsequent to his death, relatives discovered numerous women’s purses, jewelry, and other effects in his home, along with newspaper articles about the attempted abduction of the 26 year-old female, the Smith homicide, and Becker homicide.
In June 2010, the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office announced that advances in DNA evidence and comparison (a technology unavailable in 1982) definitively linked Argue to Orma Smith’s murder. Boulder County investigators, working with Larimer County and Illinois law enforcement officials,
re-evaluated Agrue’s potential involvement in Ms. Becker’s death.
There were a number of similarities in the three homicides and the attempted abduction: three of the four involved young women (Ms. Smith being the exception), their purses or personal effects were taken by the suspect, and all involved the use of a knife. The three homicide victims died from multiple stab wounds inflicted upon the same area of the body; Ms. Marino’s ,Ms. Becker’s and Mrs. Smith’s bodies were found in or near mountain streams.
The Boulder County Sheriff’s Office recruited the assistance of the Federal Bureau of Investigations Behavioral Analysis Unit, presenting them with the case facts from the four investigations. Upon review, the FBI’s experts concluded that it was highly probable that Mr. Agrue was responsible for Susan Becker’s murder. Detectives shared the case facts and the FBI experts’ opinions with the Boulder County District Attorney’s Office and solicited their opinion. They agreed that there was probable cause to believe that Mr. Agrue was responsible for Susan Becker’s death and, that if he were still alive, they would pursue murder charges against him.
The FBI’s Behavioral Analysis Unit is also investigating the potential of Mr. Agrue having been involved in other homicides as a serial killer.
Sheriff’s office release
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Learning from Boston marathon for BolderBOULDER race
May 14th
Race organizers from the Bolder BOULDER, the Boulder Police Department and the University of Colorado Police Department are asking the public to cooperate with additional security measures that will be in place for the May 27 Memorial Day run.
Race participants and spectators will notice an increased law enforcement and emergency services presence along the 10-kilometer course.
Organizers ask the public for their patience and cooperation with the new rules.
Police request that participants and spectators refrain from bringing backpacks or other bags to the race. If people must bring bags, please pack lightly and keep them in your possession at all times. “Airport rules” will apply, and any unattended bags along the course or at Folsom Field will be subject to confiscation.
On race day, the public is asked to immediately report any suspicious activity or people by calling 9-1-1.
“We realize that the recent events in Boston have created some extra concern for people, and we want to reassure everyone that the Boulder and CU police departments and race organizers are working together to make this event as safe and enjoyable as possible,” said Boulder Police Chief Mark Beckner. “We have comprehensive security plans in place. We will not be discussing details or specifics of those plans.”
The public will also see an increased law enforcement presence at the race’s finish at CU’s Folsom Field. For spectators bringing items into the stadium, football game rules will apply. That includes only allowing soft-sided bags smaller than 12x12x12 (such as small purses and backpacks) inside Folsom Field. For a full list of permitted and prohibited items, please see http://bit.ly/FolsomFieldRules.
“The bag checks will be one of the evident changes seen by the public,” said Joe Roy, CU police chief. “But our police departments have added other security measures that will not be obvious to the public, by design, to enhance safety.”
The police departments and BolderBOULDER appreciate the public’s cooperation.
“The safety and security of the BolderBOULDER runners, spectators, volunteers and sponsors is our primary concern,” said Cliff Bosley, BolderBOULDER race director. “We thank everyone for their help in keeping this the fun and safe event we’ve enjoyed for the past 34 years.”
For updates and race-day information, please see www.bolderboulder.com.
MEDIA RELEASE BY BOULDER AND CU POLICE. ONLY A MORON WOULD THINK OTHERWISE.