Five people have been arrested on suspicion of stealing about $72,000 worth of guns, ammunition and silver bullion coins, among other items, from a property in the Vallecito Reservoir area northeast of Durango.
A theft was first reported about noon Feb. 4, but several additional burglaries occurred after that date, said Chris Burke, spokesman for the La Plata County Sheriff’s Office. All of the thefts involved a single victim, he said.
The Sheriff’s Office worked with the San Juan County Sheriff’s Office in New Mexico to identify suspects and make arrests, he said.
The San Juan County Sheriff’s Office executed nine search warrants on businesses, private residences and devices like cellphones, Burke said.
Five individuals have been arrested in connection with the burglaries, including Heather Cawthon, Ismael Cordova, Shawn Blackwell, Jobie Wells and Brandon Yates, he said. A sixth suspect may be arrested pending a federal indictment, Burke said.
All five suspects were being held on unrelated offenses in New Mexico. They are expected to eventually be extradited to La Plata County to face charges in connection with the thefts. The suspects are expected to be charged with burglary and trespassing, but each may face different levels of charges based on their level of culpability, Burke said.
“It looks like the individuals in the burglary committed separate criminal acts in New Mexico, and so once those charges have been satisfied, they answer to charges here in Colorado,” Burke said.
In addition to guns, ammunition and coins, the suspects are accused of taking hunting bows, a snowmobile, a flatbed trailer and a riding lawn mower. More than 700 rounds of ammunition were stolen from the property, Burke said.
In executing the search warrants, law enforcement recovered 20 stolen firearms and hundreds of rounds of 50-caliber ammunition, he said.
Burke said the property owner did everything he could do to keep the property safe, “and these individuals acted on an opportunity.”
“We want to remind folks to keep their property safe,” he said. “Any individuals that are seen in areas that are suspicious, please call central dispatch and the Sheriff’s Office will respond.”
shane@durangoherald.com
