The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office reports that nearly 100 vehicles were stolen from or broken into in the last month, with the highest number of incidents in Highlands Ranch and Parker, officials said Wednesday. Twenty-four vehicles were stolen over the same period.
The increase in property crimes has been noted since the beginning of August, the sheriff’s office said in a news release.
Most of the crimes have taken place overnight or in the early morning hours and have targeted cars with unlocked doors, keys left inside the vehicles and garage doors left open, the release said.
Small objects have been taken in most of these cases, the release said, including garage door openers.
“If you are a victim and your remote is stolen, immediately have the code for your garage door opener changed,” the sheriff’s office said.
The sheriff’s office said that multiple people are responsible for these offenses and have identified one man and issued an arrest warrant for Marcus Hicks, who faces allegations of identity theft and first-degree criminal trespassing.
Investigators are searching for others who could be involved.
The sheriff’s office cautions citizens to close car windows and lock doors, take the garage remote inside, remove valuables from the car, park in a lighted area, use an audible alarm and close the garage door.
Anyone with information about the crimes is asked to call the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office tip line at 303-660-7579.
Elizabeth Hernandez: 303-954-1223, ehernandez@denverpost.com or
