Posts tagged Boulder Police
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–
BPD: Chief Beckner moving on
Feb 18th
“Throughout Chief Beckner’s career, he has served with honor and integrity,” said City Manager Jane Brautigam. “His commitment helped to define the culture of the Boulder Police Department and what our community expects from its public servants. I am very grateful to have had Mark’s counsel and experience as we dealt with community emergencies from wildfires to last year’s enormous flood, and as we worked to make Boulder a safer community. Through his leadership, we have built a strong police department that will continue to serve and protect the community for years to come.”
During Beckner’s tenure as chief, the Police Department opened the Communications Center, implemented the motorcycle traffic unit, received Colorado Accreditation through the Colorado Association of Chiefs of Police, created the Major Crimes Unit, oversaw the planning and construction of the police training center and firearms range, brought Animal Control Services and Code Enforcement under the department, and worked with the Colorado Bureau of Investigation to create, fund, and staff a CBI DNA lab in the Boulder Police Department.
“It has been a privilege and an honor to serve Boulder,” said Beckner. “Over the past 36 years, we’ve covered a lot of ground from riots to Presidential visits, but what I will treasure most is the interactions and support from the community as we faced tragedies and celebrated successes together. “Boulder has been a very rewarding career,” he said. “I am very appreciative to have served with so many fine men and women who helped build a strong, honorable department. And while it’s difficult to close this final chapter of a long and exciting career in law enforcement, I know that the department is in very capable hands, and I’m looking forward to new opportunities in my future.”
Over the next few weeks, Brautigam will be working with the police and city human resources departments to develop a search process for Boulder’s next police chief.
–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–