Thieves prey on ‘neighborly’ senior citizens

JEFFERSON COUNTY – Being neighborly proved costly for four senior citizens, including a Lakewood resident, who have

Female suspect/artist's composite

 lost jewelry and cash after allowing a pair of strangers claiming to be neighbors needing help stole cash and jewelry from the victims.

The Jeffco Sheriff’s Office issued an alert Friday, warning area residents about the Hispanic couple that has preyed on older folks in the metro area and urging the public to be vigilant.

When victims answer a knock at their door, the couple claim to live nearby but have locked themselves out of their house, according to Sheriff’s Office spokesman Mark Techmeyer.

Once inside the victim’s home, the man asks to use the restroom. The woman then keeps the victim distracted while her accomplice roams the house, stealing jewelry and cash. The unaware victims do not discover their possessions have been stolen until the pair is “long gone,” according to Techmeyer.

The victims describe the male as average height and build, 5-foot-8 to 5-foot-10. The female is described as 5-foot-2 to 5-foot-5, with dark hair and with a medium build. Both suspects are believed to be 25 to 35 years old.

“The male has changed his behavior and style of dress with each theft. He has acted polite and professional while being well dressed, as well as portraying himself as disheveled and mentally challenged” in others, Techmeyer said in the alert.

The couple is believed to have driven a blue pickup truck in two of the thefts, and a 90’s model white car in at least one other theft.

The Sheriff’s Office urges residents to be wary of opening the door to strangers and to watch for suspicious strangers fitting the descriptions of the suspects in their neighborhoods.

Anyone with information about the crimes is urged to call the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office tip line at 303-271-5612.