There were multiple attempted vehicle and home burglaries reported to the Summit County Sheriff's Office Monday morning.
Keeping vehicles and doors locked, removing valuables and keys are ways residents can help prevent becoming a victim of theft.
The incidents occurred in the Black Hawk Station and Spring Creek neighborhoods as well as the Canyon Creek Condos. A witness told Sheriff's deputies they saw a red car, possibly a Nissan, in the area at about 4:45 a.m.
Summit County Sheriff's Lt. Andrew Wright said the office took reports on five incidents that morning.
"Additionally, we've had some stolen vehicles. There's one specific that happened within the last couple of days. A red Nissan Ultima, I believe it was that was stolen from a residence,” he said. “And that vehicle or a vehicle very similar was reported to have been seen in the area, or some of these other vehicle break-ins, have taken place."
Another auto theft occurred with the victim discovering his car was gone when he attempted to auto-start his vehicle. He went outside and realized it was gone. The victim said he had left his key in the unlocked car.
Wright said they use a national registry to help identify stolen vehicles, and the Sheriff's Department has a new license plate reader that can help with recovery.
"We do have one vehicle that's called a license plate reader that is constantly scanning license plates, just out in public, general public areas, whether it's a roadway or a parking lot or whatever,” he said. “And it's running information very quickly to see if there are any stolen vehicles or wanted persons, which speeds up the process of us locating stolen vehicles or whatnot."
Earlier in March, a vehicle burglary incident occurred when a complainant told deputies that someone took his firearm from the console in his unlocked pickup truck.
“That's a big deal to leave a firearm in a vehicle, especially unlocked,” Wright said. “Valuables in general – it's a good reminder which touches taking out your valuables, locking your doors, day and night, keeping your garage door closed, day and night."
Wright said they have videos from two different complainants which show the same suspect checking door handles.
"So common nowadays for people to have the different video doorbells ore even the cameras on the exterior of their homes are watching their driveways or the front door, stuff like that, people having that technology and then because it's so widely used now, it is a very great investigative tool,” Wright said of home security services like Ring.
On the videos, the suspect rode a three-wheeled electric scooter with headlights. It appears to be an adult male wearing a hooded sweatshirt with reflective lettering on the back and a black flat brim hat. They think he is wearing gloves and dark pants.
"What we find is history usually repeats itself,” Wright said. “We usually find that the people that are doing this are usually the same people, or group groups, that are coming into the area and committing the crime and leaving."
Wright asks the public to call immediately, no matter the time of day, if they see something suspicious in their neighborhood.
