The La Plata County Sheriff’s Office is reminding residents to lock their cars and homes to prevent theft.
At least three cars have been stolen this month from Durango West II subdivision, and in all three cases, the cars were left unlocked with keys inside, said Dan Bender, Sheriff’s Office spokesman.
Two of the cars were parked inside garages with the garage door open, he said. The third was a visitor to Durango West II who parked on the street with keys in the car.
Deputies spotted one of the cars, a 2006 Mazda 3, headed south on U.S. Highway 550 toward New Mexico. Deputies pursued the car but lost it crossing the state line, Bender said. It was later found abandoned in some bushes off the side of the road. The two other cars remain missing: a 2006 white Hyundai Santa Fe and a 2015 Subaru Outback.
“The investigation into all three of those is continuing,” Bender said.
Most thefts are “crimes of opportunity” and not crimes of forced entry, Bender said.
“It’s been a common problem ... where most often when cars are stolen, the doors were unlocked and keys were in the ignition,” Bender said. “You think it’d be common sense not to leave your car like that, but a lot of people do.
“People need to take personal responsibility for their property and not feel that because they live in a rural area or semi-rural area it’s safe.”
A fourth car was reported stolen recently in La Plata County, but Bender didn’t immediately have specifics on when or where.
La Plata County Crimestoppers is seeking information about another car theft involving a white Honda Civic that was stolen from an alley in the 1000 block of Main Avenue between 7 p.m. March 17 and 7 a.m. March 18.
The car was found abandoned near the intersection of Needham Court and Thomas Drive. Anyone with information is asked to call Crimestoppers at 247-1112.
shane@durangoherald.com
