Douglas County, CO – August 27, 2024 – The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office is actively responding to a significant increase in auto thefts and garage burglaries across Douglas County. With a concerning total of 33 auto thefts reported in July, deputies have been working tirelessly to combat this rise in criminal activity. In one case, a suspect was seen on surveillance footage carrying a handgun while trying to break into vehicles in a Douglas County neighborhood. In a separate case, a recovered stolen vehicle from Douglas County was linked to an armed carjacking in another city where shots were fired at the victim.
In recent weeks, the Sheriff’s Office has conducted multiple investigations; executing search warrants, making numerous traffic stops, and pursuing suspects who try to flee. These efforts have led to the arrests of 11 individuals and the recovery of 17 stolen vehicles and 2 stolen weapons, reflecting the department’s commitment to ensuring public safety. The Sheriff’s Office is still investigating potential connections between these various cases.
The suspects arrested have been identified as:
- 28-year-old Jorge Gutierrez-Valdez, a Venezuelan National, faces charges of vehicular theft.
- 33-year-old Axel Cardenas, a Columbian National living in Denver, faces charges of burglary, possession of burglary tools, criminal trespass. Released to ICE.
- 29-year-old Yilbert Maldonaldo, a Venezuelan National living in Aurora, faces charges of burglary, possession of burglary tools, criminal trespass. Released to ICE.
- 20-year-old Jose Murillo, a Venezuelan National living in Aurora, faces charges of burglary, possession of burglary tools, criminal trespass. In DCSO custody. The Department of Homeland Security has provided an immigration detainer.
- 30-year-old Lana Tamara Fernandez, a Denver resident, faces charges of motor vehicle theft, vehicular eluding.
- 25-year-old Wister Antonio Diaz-Caballero, a Florida resident, faces charges of driving on suspended license, eluding, possession of drug paraphernalia.
- 36-year-old Jennifer Cait Anderson, a Parker resident, faces charges of motor vehicle theft, possession of burglary tools, drug offenses.
- 4 juveniles
Sheriff Weekly praised the efforts of his team, stating, “My deputies have worked incredibly hard over the past several months to keep our community safe. 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.”
Sheriff Weekly also emphasized the critical role the community plays in preventing these crimes. “We need the community’s help to prevent crimes of opportunity. Lock your cars and your homes,” he urged. “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 Douglas County Sheriff’s Office remains dedicated to safeguarding the community and will continue to work around the clock to bring those responsible for these crimes to justice. Residents are encouraged to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity immediately.
The investigation into all these thefts and any potential links to organized crime continues. The suspects mentioned in this release are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
