Posts tagged theft
Boulder police: Serial bike theft suspect arrested
Mar 10th
Boulder Police detectives have been investigating a series of thefts of high-end bicycles from the downtown area and today, March 10, 2014, formally arrested the suspect, John William Samson III (DOB 10/04/1975). Samson was arrested at the Boulder County Jail, where he has been incarcerated on separate charges.
Samson faces 34 counts of Theft, one count of Third Degree Burglary, one count of Criminal Trespass and one count of Criminal Mischief. Twenty-nine of the charges are felonies.
Investigators believe Samson is responsible for the thefts of 43 bicycles from May 2013 until September 2013. The bikes are worth a total of approximately $147,000.00. The bicycles range in price from $700.00 to $9,000.00 each.
The majority of the thefts took place in the downtown business area during daylight hours. Most of the bikes were locked, either to bike racks or on vehicle racks. None of the stolen bikes have been recovered, and they have not shown up in area pawn shops.
Several bicycles were stolen from the campus of Boulder High School, including five bikes belonging to the Boulder High School’s mountain bike team. Those bicycles had been stored in a locked trailer and were taken during the Boulder flood.
Victims include local residents, people travelling through Colorado on vacation and at least one victim who had driven to Boulder for a bike competition, only to find his bicycle stolen the day before he was to compete. Victims are juveniles, students, professionals, a professor and an out-of-state fire fighter.
Brands of the stolen bikes include: Yeti, Santa Cruz, Transition, Titus, Felt, Scott, Specialized, Kona, Gary Fisher, Trek and Klein.
Samson is currently in jail, and his bond has been set at $100,000.00. Detectives are continuing to investigate.
The Boulder Police Department has been working in partnership with the Colorado Department of Corrections, which provided critical information and timely assistance during our investigation.
Anyone with information about these thefts is asked to contact Detective Craig Beckjord at 303-441-3336. 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 atwww.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.
— CITY–
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.
— CITY–
High-end bike theft ring being investigated
Dec 10th
The Boulder Police Department is investigating a series of high-end bicycle thefts dating back to early 2013. Police are aware of numerous stolen road and mountain bikes. At this time, none of the bicycles has been recovered. Although the thefts occurred in Boulder, the victims are nationwide, as many were visiting Boulder during the spring and summer months.
Investigators believe the thefts are related based on the pattern (modus operandi) of the suspect. The majority of the bikes were attached to vehicles either by a roof mount, a hitch rack or a rack mounted in truck beds. The thief or thieves used bolt cutters and/or wire cutters to defeat cable and u-locks to remove the bicycles from vehicles which were parked on downtown streets and parking garages, and from neighborhoods like Goss Grove and Frasier Meadows.
During the course of the investigation, detectives have recovered dozens of bike accessories that include:
· Pumps
· Tools
· Saddle bags
· Cyclometer
· Other generic bike accessories
Photos of many of the recovered accessories are attached and detectives would like to communicate with anyone who may recognize the items and/or who has had a bicycle stolen in the manner and from locations mentioned above. Anyone who has been assigned a current case file number is asked to provide that information to police when calling.
Anyone with information about this investigation is asked to contact Detective Craig Beckjord at beckjordc@bouldercolorado.gov or 303-441-3336. 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.
— CITY–