The crew? Two Durango residents. The ship? A yellow Ford Mustang with chrome wheels. And the treasure? A $13 candle ordered off Amazon.
On Thursday, the Durango Police Department announced it had charged two suspects with theft – a misdemeanor – for stealing a package containing a candle off a porch in a north Durango neighborhood. Additionally, an investigation is underway to determine if more residents were victims of their alleged thefts.
“I would like to point out that these porch thefts are not worth the price of what comes of it,” said DPD spokeswoman Amanda Garrison.
DPD first learned of the thefts Monday evening when, at about 5:32 p.m., a UPS delivery driver reported that a yellow Ford Mustang with chrome wheels was following him, according to a DPD Facebook post.
“The driver captured video of a female suspect taking packages shortly after delivery and walking back to the Mustang, which was being driven by a male suspect,” the post said. “It is unknown how many residences may have been impacted before the vehicle fled the area.”
The report spurred an investigation, and on Tuesday, officers reportedly found a yellow Mustang outside KP Pawn on College Drive matching the description of the vehicle that had followed the delivery driver.
The suspects were identified as Durango residents and charged with misdemeanor counts for theft. How widespread their activities were – and how many packages were pilfered – remain under investigation.
“At this time, one victim has been identified, and the investigation is ongoing to determine whether additional thefts occurred,” the post said.
The post said that Durango residents can help the department determine if additional thefts occurred by contacting its Investigations tip line at 375-4730 and reference the case number P26-00470.
Police encouraged anyone who had a delivered package go missing Monday to call the tip line. Likewise, anyone with doorbell camera footage showing the yellow Mustang, a package theft or other suspicious activity between 5:30 and 6 p.m. Monday should report it.
“We’re still looking for tips and any potential victims that could still be out there,” Garrison said. “We’d like to hear from them. And any evidence that’s still out there, we’d appreciate it.”
sedmondson@durangoherald.com
