Douglas County, CO — March 7, 2025 — The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office is proud to announce the successful resolution of a complex theft case involving the theft of two (1 kilo) gold bars. This arrest, conviction, and sentencing highlights the tireless efforts of Detective Eric Oppeau and the continued commitment of the Sheriff’s Office to seek justice for victims, no matter the complexity of the case.
The incident occurred on July 8, 2023, when a victim was targeted by a suspect who stole two gold bars from their possession. The victim provided vital information to responding deputies, including the suspect’s vehicle description and license plate number. Our Detective quickly identified the vehicle as a rental and acted swiftly by issuing a subpoena to the rental company to track down the individual behind the crime. As the investigation unfolded, additional subpoenas were sent to several credit card and telephone companies to gather data that would further solidify the suspect’s connection to the crime. Using location data from the victim’s phone and the vehicle, our detective was able to place the suspect, identified as Sagar Patel, age 27, at the scene of the theft. Surveillance footage further confirmed Patel’s involvement, showing him at the vehicle rental counter at Denver International Airport, a marijuana dispensary in Littleton, and at other key locations.
The breakthrough came after our detective worked with the Jersey City, NJ task force to track Patel down. On February 1, 2024, Patel was arrested, and an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainer was placed on him, as Patel’s home country is India. Patel was sentenced on March 7, 2025 to six years in prison for the theft. He is still under an ICE detainer awaiting possible deportation proceedings.
Sheriff Weekly praised Detective Oppeau for his relentless pursuit of justice. “This case exemplifies the dedication and resourcefulness of our Financial Crimes Unit investigators. Detective Oppeau pursued every lead, never losing sight of the victim’s need for justice. We are proud of the work done to bring this criminal to justice, and this case underscores our commitment to protect those at risk,” said Sheriff Weekly.
