Boulder County Sheriff addresses Niwot homeowners about recent break-ins

Boulder County Sheriff Curtis Johnson and five other law enforcement officers met with almost 100 Niwot homeowners in person and on Zoom on Nov. 6 to discuss the rash of break-ins in the area which had begun two to three weeks earlier.

Johnson said, "Although we can't share everything, we are taking the situation very seriously." He said that the department's aggressive actions support the goal of putting an end to the intrusions quickly.

A great concern is that the perpetrators may be part of a well-organized criminal cell which sends three to ten people at a time into multiple neighborhoods in the region. Johnson said, "Niwot is not alone. We believe the [incidents] are all related."

Johnson said that Boulder County law enforcement and the FBI have a good working relationship. Two of the sheriff's deputies in attendance at the meeting are members of the TRACE team, which helps law enforcement agencies combat organized crime cooperatively.

Targeted properties are large homes located in affluent areas. Since March 2024, about 12 incidents have been reported in Boulder County, with a concentration in Niwot, according to Sheriff Johnson. Most affected homes are located along open space, green space or walking paths. Friday evenings, followed by Thursdays, are the most common times these incidents have taken place.

In advance of a home entry, a scout will often stake out a street or neighborhood by observing activity in a vehicle or on foot during daylight. Packages left outside and mail accumulating in mailboxes are obvious signs that a home is unoccupied.

Intruders usually access residences where security measures are less likely to be in use. They prefer to enter the first floor at the back of the home, or they use ropes to climb an air conditioner or downspouts to reach the second story.

The primary bedroom and closet are specifically targeted. Homeowners most often keep cash, jewelry, designer handbags, guns, and other valuables in that part of their residence. Safes and their contents are vulnerable as well. Whether they are bolted down or not, safes have been known to be removed along with other homeowner possessions within eight minutes.

It is important to note that to date, there is no evidence that the perpetrators carry weapons, according to law enforcement officers Furthermore, although the intruders may handle weapons they come across in the targeted homes, they are not believed to have removed them.

The Sheriff's Department has specifically asked residents to partner with them to identify the individuals. Video footage has not been helpful in describing or identifying the thieves because they wear masks, gloves and beanies. What is known is that they have the agility to scale the exterior of the homes. It is assumed they are between the ages of 18 and 40.

How to protect your home

Homeowners can help to secure their residences and neighborhoods. By being observant, they can also provide needed assistance to the Sheriff's Department in identifying the individuals involved. The following suggestions were made by the law enforcement officers and by individual homeowners:

Partner with the Sheriff

1. If there appears to be a need for immediate response, call 911. Otherwise, call the Boulder

County Sheriff's Department non-emergency number, 303-441-4444, to report concerns and information.

2. Keep your eyes open for unfamiliar parked vehicles on the street or those that are being

driven slowly up and down the street. If possible, take a photo of the license plate and

keep a record of the date, time, and description of the vehicle. At least one such vehicle has

been reported by a resident since the meeting date. Report the information on the non-emergency line.

3. Note any unfamiliar individuals walking up and down the street or acting suspiciously.

Record the person's description and take a photo if possible. Report to the non-

emergency line.

4. If you do have a break-in, do not touch anything and leave your residence, preferably by

vehicle, without touching anything. Call the Boulder County Sheriff immediately.

Protect Your Home

1. If you have an alarm system, use it.

2. Light up the exterior of your home.

3. Put your interior lights on automatic timers.

4. Keep your television on when you are not home in the evening.

5. Keep blinds down after dark.

6. Hide valuables in multiple locations outside of your primary bedroom and closet.

7. Get a safe and use it.

8. Secure any weapons.

9. Get motion detectors and consider a monitored security system.

10. Do not permit strangers to enter your home under any circumstances. Step outside to

talk to them.

11. Keep your garage doors closed at all times. Your cars and sports equipment provide an

indication of the valuables you may have indoors.

12. Keep your driveway shoveled. When you're out of town, ask a neighbor to drive up and

down your snow-covered driveway.

13. Keep your walkway and the entry to your house shoveled.

14. Get a dog.

Protect Your Neighborhood

1. Get to know your neighbors.

2. Set up a Neighborhood Watch and let your neighbors know immediately after notifying

the Sheriff's office if you have had a break-in.

3. Share contact information with your HOA or nearby residents and agree under what

circumstances you will notify others of safety concerns.

4. Help others when they are out of town by driving up and down snow-covered

driveways, shoveling their walkways and home entrances.

5. Agree with neighbors to walk through each other's homes to open and close blinds

and check for problems when homes are empty.

6. Collect any mail, flyers or packages of neighbors who are away.