Federal Bureau of Investigation - Denver Field Division

FBI DENVER DIVISION

Press Release

Federal Bureau of Investigation
1961 Stout Street Suite 1823
Denver, Colorado 80294
Main phone: (303)629-7171
Fax: (303)575-7132

For Immediate Release
August 16, 2008

Late this afternoon, the FBI’s Rocky Mountain Safe Streets Task Force (RMSSTF) and Broomfield Police Department apprehended three members of a South American Theft group. The RMSSTF was assisting the FBI Los Angeles Division and Los Angeles Police Department by surveilling three known members of this group. The three came to Denver from California for the purpose of committng high end retail thefts. The members were known to target high end retailers and steal tens of thousands worth of merchandise daily.

Today, the three subjects were observed by the RMSSTF at various locations in the Denver metro area. This afternoon, the subjects went into the Flat Iron Mall in Broomfield and stole from several stores. As they left the mall in a green Isuzu, the RMSSTF attempted to make contact. The driver of the Isuzu accelerated away in an effort to flee law enforcement and drove at high speeds. A member of the RMSSTF was able to use their vehicle to stop the Isuzu, and prevent innocent members of the public from being in harms way. The three subjects fled their vehicle and two were immediately arrested by members of the RMSSTF and Broomfield Police Department. The third subject, who was the driver of the Isuzu, was apprehended a short while later after a Broomfield Police K-9 tracked him to a nearby creek. This third subject was submerged under water in an attempt to hide from law enforcement, but his efforts were in vain.

At this time, the Broomfield Police Department took the three into custody, pending local charges.

SA Kathy Wright
Public Information Office

FBI- Denver

1961 Stout Street, 18th floor
Denver, CO 80294
575-7056
Kathleen.Wright@ic.fbi.gov

**For more information on the FBI, to include employment, go www.fbi.gov