Eleven people were arrested and 17 vehicles recovered after a recent surge in car thefts, the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office said Tuesday.
Deputies responded to 33 vehicle thefts in July amid a “significant increase” in auto thefts and garage burglaries, sheriff’s officials said in a news release.
Investigators arrested 11 suspects, including four juveniles, on suspicion of burglary, vehicular theft, eluding and other charges.
Most of the suspects lived in metro Denver. Two suspects — one a Venezuelan national and one a Colombian national — were released to Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers after their arrests, according to the sheriff’s office.
In a statement, Douglas County Sheriff Darren Weekly said community members should keep their cars and homes locked and not confront someone stealing a car.
“The last thing we want is for someone to get hurt,” Weekly said.
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Originally Published: August 28, 2024 at 6:00 a.m.
