A Colorado crook carrying thousands of dollars of stolen merchandise walked right into the police’s hands after he was caught trying to use an Uber as a getaway car, cops said.
The bungling burglar was ransacking a plumbing store in the Denver suburbs last week when he called the rideshare driver to pick him up.
The store owner had called 911 after noticing a hole cut in the business’ fencing and caught surveillance footage of the thief inside.
When the local Wheat Ridge police arrived on the scene, they discovered the Uber driver waiting nearby.
He told cops his passenger “Jose” was headed right toward the car.
“Are you looking for an Uber?” an officer can be heard asking the suspect in bodycam footage shared by the department.
The man — wearing the hood of his black sweatshirt up and a pulled-down balaclava — shoots his gaze sideways and hides his hands inside his pockets.
Police said the would-be burglar, named Jose, used an Uber as a getaway vehicle. WheatRidgePD
“Uh — no,” he stammers.
He then gives the officers the fake name “Raul” as he takes several steps backward and away from the cops.
He was immediately grabbed by officers, but assures them he is not trying to make a break for it.
The burglar was stealing from a plumbing store in Denver when he called an Uber driver to pick him up. WheatRidgePD
Jose doubles down on his innocence and claims he is simply on his way to his mother’s house.
When told he matches the description of the thief, he maintains he is not the man they are looking for, despite not carrying identification to prove he is “Raul.”
The contents of his backpack, however, exposed the thin charade.
The bandit gave police the fake name “Raul” after they asked him “are you looking for an Uber?” WheatRidgePD
“This backpack is full of Milwaukee tools,” one officer can be heard saying while rifling through the loot.
Inside, cops found more than $8,600 worth of electric tools.
He was taken into custody, where fingerprint scanners confirmed his real identity.
Police discovered more than $8,600 worth of electric tools the burglar took. WheatRidgePD
“It may not be the best idea to have an Uber pick you up AT the crime scene,” Wheat Ridge Police said on social media.
A 26-year-old man by the name of Jose was booked the following day on a plethora of charges, including theft of more than $2,000, criminal trespassing and false reporting to authorities, court records show.
nypost.com
https://nypost.com/2024/01/02/news/colorado-burglar-busted-after-using-uber-as-getaway-car-for-8k-plumbing-tool-heist/
