Teen Spots Shoplifters, Jumps Into Getaway Van
LITTLETON, Colo. (CBS4) - Jefferson County investigators are hoping to track down two women who ripped off a store in Littleton last week after a teenager tried to stop them.
It happened at the Burlington Coat Factory off Bowles at approximately 7:30 p.m. on March 24, just as 18-year-old Byanka was arriving to the store with her family. When they parked they saw two women running out with their arms full of clothing.
"My mom was just yelling, 'They're shoplifting! Get them! Get them!'" Byanka, who didn't want to share her last name, told CBS4's Kelly Werthmann.
Byanka said she saw the women headed toward their getaway van and she didn't think twice about what to do next.
"The back doors opened at the same time, so I just took advantage and I just jumped into the back of the minivan," Byanka said.
The 18 year old said she's not sure why her first instinct was to jump into the van, she just wanted to stop the thieves.
"I thought if I jumped in the van and grabbed her," Byanka said, "they wouldn't have taken off. They would've been like, 'We can't take off with this girl in our car.' But they did."
As the van sped off in the parking lot, it collided with a parked car as well as a cashier who ran out to stop them. The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office said that cashier suffered minor injuries and is expected to be okay. Moments after hitting the parked car, Byanka said she shouted at the suspects, who had no clue she was in the backseat.
"They kind of got startled and I was like, 'You're going to take off with me in the car?' And they were like, 'Get out! Get out!' So I just jumped out and I ran back to my mom," she said. "And she was just like, 'What were you thinking?'"
Thankfully Byanka wasn't hurt and she said she definitely wouldn't jump into a car if she ever came across a similar scene.
"I didn't mean to put myself in harm," Byanka said. "I was just trying to help out and stop them. No one ever really does anything. Everybody just takes out their phones and stuff. So I just thought, 'I can help.'"
Jefferson County Sheriff's Office is asking for the public's help identifying the women who got away. Anyone with information is asked to call the JCSO tipline: 303-271-5612.
Kelly Werthmann joined the CBS4 team in 2012 as the morning reporter, covering national stories like the Aurora Theater Shooting and devastating Colorado wildfires. She now reports for CBS4 News at 10 and is always open to story ideas. Connect with her on Facebook or Twitter @KellyCBS4.
