Deputy: Thieves Targeting Douglas County Because Residents Are 'Trusting'
By Tom Mustin
CASTLE ROCK, Colo. (CBS4) - The Douglas County Sheriff's Office is sending a warning to residents after a series of car thefts and break-ins.
Ken and Glenda Krausfeldt have learned their lesson.
"We should have known. Just didn't think it would happen to us," Ken told CBS4's Tom Mustin.
The Krausfeldts are the latest victims in a rash of car break-ins and thefts in north Douglas County -- more than 400 since January.
Last Saturday the couple returned to their home near the Stonegate neighborhood. They had left the keys in their Pontiac Solstice with the garage door up.
"Woke up at 6:30 in the morning, the car was gone, and some tools were gone out of the garage," said Ken. "A combination of errors that bit us in the butt."
Police found the car in Aurora the next day, soaking wet from rain, and with an empty gas tank.
"There is a likelihood there are some gangs involved," said Deputy Jason Blanchard with the Douglas County Sheriff's Office.
Blanchard says organized groups from Denver, Lakewood and Aurora are targeting Douglas County. They're looking for Laptops, CDs, cash and personal information in unlocked cars and open garages. Douglas County is an easy target.
"They know Douglas County is a trusting population and a safe population. We know that. So these people are preying on the trusting values that Douglas County has," Blanchard said.
Blanchard says one stolen car left unlocked with the keys inside also had a gun in the glove box.
"That stolen vehicle was taken up to Aurora. The gun taken was used in a shooting that ended in a police chase," he said.
The sheriff's office is starting a new awareness program called Lock it or Lose It. The message: lock your car or suffer the consequences, That's a lesson Ken and Glenda Krausfeldt have learned the hard way.
"We just get a casual sense of serenity because we live in a nice place. Now we're going to be obnoxious security people," said Glenda.
Broomfield has also been hit recently by opportunistic car vandals. Broomfield police say there have been at least 11 break-ins in the past week -- most involving cars left unlocked. They share Douglas County's message: lock your car door.
Tom Mustin is CBS4's Weekend Anchor. He has been with CBS4 since 2002, and is always looking for great story ideas. Connect with Tom on Facebook or follow him on Twitter @TomCBS4.
