Colorado Springs crash leads to ‘arrest of prolific offenders’ tied to multiple vehicle break-ins

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- A September crash led to investigators connecting the driver with 15 additional incidents stretching back to the beginning of summer.

On Sept. 1, officers with the Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD) responded to a traffic accident in the 2700 block of N. Chestnut St. Police said the vehicle was driven by 39-year-old Beth Reichenberg.

According to CSPD, investigators found evidence inside Reichenberg's vehicle that was linked to a burglary of a motor vehicle that happened at Goose Gossage Park. Police said due to the increase in vehicle break-ins in Colorado Springs, detectives began working to identify any additional vehicle break-ins and additional criminal activity that she might've been associated with.

That investigation led to detectives identifying two others who were involved in "criminal activity" with Reichenberg.

According to CSPD, Reichenberg and the two other suspects were linked to an additional 15 cases. Police said this happened between June and September. This included additional burglaries of motor vehicles from across Colorado Springs, including Red Rock Canyon Open Space, Villa Sport, Memorial Central Hospital parking garage, Cinemark Theaters, and Colorado College's parking garage.

Detectives also found evidence linking the suspects to additional burglaries and criminal incidents in neighboring jurisdictions.

According to CSPD, one of the suspects was identified as 25-year-old Brian Lude. Police said the second person is not being publicly identified because they were cited with misdemeanor Criminal Trespass and Criminal Mischief.

Reichenberg was arrested on the following charges:

• 30 counts of Identity Theft (Felony)
• Two counts of Unauthorized Use of a Financial Transaction Device (Felony)
• Theft (Felony)
• 11 counts of First Degree Criminal Trespass (misdemeanor)
• Possession of a Weapon by a Previous Offender (Felony)
• Possession of Burglary Tools (Misdemeanor)
• Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance (Misdemeanor)
• Criminal Mischief (Misdemeanor)
• Careless Driving Causing Accident and License for Drivers Required

Brian Lude was arrested on the following charges:

• Six counts of Identity Theft (Felony)
• one count of Second Degree Burglary (Felony)
• one count of Unauthorized Use of a Financial Transaction Device (misdemeanor)
• two counts of First Degree Criminal Trespass (misdemeanor)
• Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance (misdemeanor)
• Criminal Mischief (Misdemeanor)
• Theft (Misdemeanor)
• False Reporting of Identifying Information to Law Enforcement Authorities (Misdemeanor)
• Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (Petty Offense)

Police described this investigation as an "arrest of prolific offenders."

In a press release, Colorado Springs Police Chief Adrian Vasquez accused recent legislative changes of limiting his officer's ability to prevent vehicle break-ins.

We have been having a lot of conversations about crime rates in our community. When compared to other cities our size, our rates are lower than average, but our property crimes rates have gone up in 2022. These are complex issues, but I believe one of the factors impacting the rise was a change in criminal laws in March of 2022. Numerous criminal laws were changed but one of the changes made breaking into someone’s car a misdemeanor rather than a felony. This means that if we catch someone for breaking into cars, and there is only evidence to charge them with this specific crime, all my officers can do is give them a ticket telling them they have to go to court sometime in the future. Prior to this, we could arrest and book them into jail.

I am proud of my officers and detectives for working this case and developing enough evidence to arrest this group of prolific offenders who have victimized numerous people in our community but I want our community to know our ability to prevent this type of pattern crimes has been limited by legislative changes.

Colorado Springs Police Chief Adrian Vasquez

CSPD said vehicle break-ins are typically "pattern-style crimes" involving suspects who've committed numerous similar-style acts. The department said oftentimes, suspects involved in vehicle break-ins will go on to commit other crimes with the items they've stolen, including identity theft or trying to sell stolen property to a pawn broker.

The department has asked anyone who believes they may have been a victim of a Burglary of a Motor Vehicle in the areas mentioned above between June and Sept. or has information on these crimes to contact the Pikes Peak Area Crimestoppers at 719-634-7867. People can also call the CSPD non-emergency line at 719-444-7000.