By Shannon Lukens.
A theft and burglary spree early Friday morning on July 7 resulted in an arrest of a Yampa man. Steamboat Springs Police say it was all in the Fish Creek Falls Road and Hilltop Parkway area, starting with the theft of some AirPods from a car. Then a bike and two e-bikes were stolen.
The next report came in at 5:38 a.m. from Buena Vista Court, of an electrical fire from an electrical box. It had been hit by a truck that was attempting to be stolen. The owner of the truck heard his truck start up in his driveway. Steamboat Police say he ran out to stop the theft, and he was dragged from the back of his truck when it hit the electrical box. The suspect then fled, and somehow got away through to South Routt County. Those AirPods were able to be tracked along I-70 to Grand Junction. Routt County Sheriff’s Office deputies were able to confirm a white Dodge Truck in the area of the Air Pods, that belong to Glen Shaffer. The truck contained what was suspected to be stolen items. The truck was no longer in the area, but the AirPods were still being tracked.
Colorado State Patrol was able to use the information and tracking of the AirPods, and they arrested Glen Shaffer of Yampa, who had possession of the stolen property, now in a Buick SUV which was also registered in Shaffer’s name.
Here’s Steamboat Springs Police Officer Evan Noble with a reminder.
“The Steamboat Springs Police Department would like to remind everyone to lock their vehicles, take their keys out of the vehicle, lock up anything of value.”
Of the items stolen, at least two of the vehicles were unlocked, according to one of the vehicle owners and to neighbors.
Steamboat Springs Police issued an arrest warrant which was served in Mesa County, for Shaffer for Aggravated Motor Vehicle Theft, Reckless Endangerment, First Degree Criminal Trespass, Second Degree Burglary, and three counts of Theft. He was released on a $5,000 personal recognizance bond.
Shaffer has an Appearance on Bond in Routt County District Court at 8:30 a.m. July 25.
Press release from the City of Steamboat Springs; July 18, 2023.
Suspect Arrested On Multiple Counts of Theft & Burglary
SSPD Reminds Residents to Lock Up Vehicles & Residences
STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, COLORADO-July 18, 2023-On the morning of Friday, July 7, 2023, the Steamboat Springs Police Department (SSPD) received a call around 5:30am about an in-progress stolen vehicle on Hillside Drive.
The vehicle owner heard his truck start and witnessed it being driven away. He ran after the truck and was able to catch up to the vehicle and climb onto the bed of the truck. The owner then broke out the back window to get to the suspect, who then fled on foot leaving the vehicle in motion. It struck an electrical box, starting a small fire that was quickly extinguished. The vehicle owner suffered minor injuries during this event. SSPD found items in the truck which did not belong to the victim.
Later in the morning, SSPD received multiple reports of items being stolen from vehicles, a garage, and other residential areas in the neighborhoods along Hilltop Parkway. One item of significance reported stolen were Apple Air Pods, which the owner was able to track to Yampa, Colorado.
Based on that information, a Routt County Sheriff’s Office (RCSO) Deputy responded at the request of the SSPD. The deputy observed multiple vehicles parked in general vicinity that the air pods were tracked including a white Dodge truck registered to Glen Shaffer. The truck contained suspected stolen items in the bed, including bicycles.
The Dodge truck was verified in the location of the thefts through surveillance footage. By the time this information was confirmed, the truck was no longer in the area. However, officers were able to continue to track the air pods along Interstate 70 to Grand Junction.
The following day, the Colorado State Patrol (CSP) was able to use this information and contacted Glen Shaffer, of Yampa, Colorado, in a Buick SUV which was also registered in his name. Multiple reported stolen items were recovered in the Buick SUV, including a mountain bike and two e-bikes. CSP arrested Shaffer on the charge of Possession of Stolen Property.
SSPD completed an arrest warrant, which was served in Mesa County, for Shaffer for Aggravated Motor Vehicle Theft, Reckless Endangerment, First Degree Criminal Trespass, Second Degree Burglary, and three counts of Theft. He was released on a $5,000 personal recognizance bond.
The community should remember to always lock up valuable items, their homes and vehicles as well as never leave keys in a vehicle. SSPD would like to thank the Routt County Sheriff’s Office and Colorado State Patrol for assistance with this case.
All persons accused of crimes are presumed innocent until and unless their guilt is established beyond a reasonable doubt in court.