City, campus officers nab bike theft suspects in Colorado Springs

The Colorado Springs Police Department identified three males accused of stealing more than $7,500 worth of bicycles on the Colorado College campus last Sunday night.

An officer working an extra duty assignment on campus just before midnight spotted and confronted the suspects when officials said all three parties fled on foot, dropping one stolen bike and a backpack.

That same officer was then able to come together with on-duty officers to assist in identifying two of the suspects using surveillance video taken from that day. Police located and arrested the two males, who later allegedly admitted to the thefts.

The following day, officers combed through the surveillance video and were able to obtain further photos of the third suspect. Police said they were able to locate and arrest the suspect using an address linked to his identity.

Using a search warrant, officers recovered five more bikes and frames at that same residence, one of which was immediately identified as stolen from an unrelated incident.

Campus Safety officers said three bikes were taken from campus, and police said the others were found at the home where the suspects apparently lived together.

The suspects are not college students or employees and have no connection to the campus, officers said.

Details of how the bikes were stolen weren’t released, but officers agree with local bike shops that a U-style lock offers the best protection from thieves.

All parties were booked into the El Paso Criminal Justice Center on charges of felony theft and possession of burglary tools. ( PHOTOS: L-R James Loper, 19; Joey Muraca, 18; Tyson Lane, 18)