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The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office is still investigating any potential connections between the cases.
DOUGLAS COUNTY, Colo — The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office said it has arrested 11 people and recovered 17 stolen vehicles and two stolen weapons after a two-month long investigation. The arrests include four juveniles.
The sheriff’s office said it’s still investigating whether any of these cases are connected.
The suspects arrested have been identified as:
- Jorge Gutierrez-Valdez, 28, from Venezuela, faces charges of vehicular theft.
- Axel Cardenas, 33, from Colombia, faces charges of burglary, possession of burglary tools, criminal trespass. He was released to ICE.
- Yilbert Maldonaldo, 29, from Venezuela, faces charges of burglary, possession of burglary tools, criminal trespass. He was released to ICE.
- Jose Murillo, 20, from Venezuela, faces charges of burglary, possession of burglary tools, criminal trespass. He is in the custody of the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, which said the Department of Homeland Security has provided an immigration detainer.
- Lana Tamara Fernandez, 30, from Denver, faces charges of motor vehicle theft, vehicular eluding.
- Wister Antonio Diaz-Caballero, 25, from Florida, faces charges of driving on a suspended license, eluding, possession of drug paraphernalia.
- Jennifer Cait Anderson, 36, from Parker, faces charges of motor vehicle theft, possession of burglary tools, drug offenses.
- 4 juveniles.
These arrests come as the sheriff’s office said it’s been seeing an increase in auto thefts and garage burglaries across Douglas County. According to a release from the sheriff’s office, there were 33 auto thefts in July alone.
In one case, a suspect was seen on surveillance footage carrying a handgun while trying to break into vehicles in a Douglas County neighborhood, the sheriff’s office said. In another, a recovered stolen vehicle was linked to an armed carjacking in another city where the victim was shot at.
The sheriff’s office said it has conducted multiple investigations over the past couple weeks, using search warrants, traffic stops, and pursuing suspects who tried to run away.
“My deputies have worked incredibly hard over the past several months to keep our community safe,” Douglas County Sheriff Dan Weekly said in a release. “From auto theft to property crimes, our IMPACT team and patrol deputies are doing everything they can to protect our residents. I would also like to thank the Aurora Police Department and their SWAT team for helping us safely execute two search warrants in their jurisdiction.”
“We need the community’s help to prevent crimes of opportunity. Lock your cars and your homes,” Weekly said. “Some of these thieves are armed and dangerous. Do not confront them. Call 911. The last thing we want is for someone to get hurt.”
The sheriff’s office is continuing to investigate these cases, and they encourage residents to stay vigilant and report any suspicious activity immediately.
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