Roughly five days after he escaped from the Jefferson County jail, Travis Sandlin remains at large and on the run.
Sandlin, 32, who on , is considered dangerous. Law enforcement said Sandlin might be connected with three vehicles stolen in the metro area this week.
The sheriff’s office said Thursday that Sandlin, while on the loose, has been stealing cars and credit cards in Highlands Ranch and the Castle Pines area. The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office is partnering with the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office on the recent cases.
Investigators say Sandlin is an “opportunistic criminal” and he’s been stealing cars with keys left in the ignition. He’s also committing “burglaries by taking advantage of open garage doors,” the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office said in a media release.
Since the escape, Sandlin is suspected of stealing a GMC Denali from Golden, a Honda Pilot from Evergreen, and most recently a Subaru Impreza from Highlands Ranch.
He’s used stolen credit cards across the metro area, the sheriff’s office said.
“It sounds like he has been very opportunistic about his approach to stealing cars,” said Jacki Kelley, a spokeswoman for the office.
A “very large partnership” of law enforcement entities, including dedicated, full-time staff, are working to find Sandlin. The FBI’s Denver office is part of that partnership, which has been scouring the state for the escapee.
An internal investigation has been opened to determine the details of Sandlin’s escape and to uncover any weaknesses in the jail’s systems.
“It’s just now a matter of fixing what happened to ensure this never happens again,” Kelley said.
Sandlin escaped between 9 and 10 p.m. Sunday during an authorized outdoor recreation time after he apparently pushed through a metal mesh fence. Officials believe about 30 minutes passed before they realized Sandlin had escaped.
Sandlin has a long criminal record dating back to 2000, including a 2003 conviction that left him a registered sex offender.
The sheriff’s office asks anyone with tips about Sandlin’s escape to call 303-271-5612. Anyone who sees Sandlin should call 911.
Jesse Paul: 303-954-1733, jpaul@denverpost.com or twitter.com/JesseAPaul
