Police comment on West Side Colorado Springs report of suspicious man ‘casing’ a neighborhood

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- Police responded Tuesday to a report of an unidentified man boldly walking into several yards and private areas Sunday afternoon, looking into home and vehicle windows, according to a social media post.

40 people responded and shared their concerns to a post on the Next Door app; the incidents happened near the intersection of 19th Street and West Pikes Peak Avenue, according to the post.

A Next Door member posted four door cam or surveillance videos of the suspicious man; at one point, a door cam recorded him saying that he was with the IRS and was taking photos of homes in the neighborhood.

The couple who posted the information said that they contacted police, likely out of concern that the man may have been looking for unlocked doors to gain entry and commit theft; such reports are common across the city put particularly so on the West Side.

However, the couple didn't file a police report -- saying that a detective told them finding the man would be difficult because of so many transients who also wander through the neighborhood.

On Tuesday, a police spokesperson said that the man's behavior didn't rise to the level of trespassing because he didn't forcibly enter private yards and didn't refuse to leave when asked.

"If the couple felt that they were being harassed, threatened or in fear of their lives, they should absolutely report it to us," said spokesperson Caitlin Ford. "Public safety is our number-one priority. Someone simply walking around and acting strangely isn't necessarily a crime for police to investigate."

Ford added that impersonating a government official is a crime; however, it has to cross a certain threshold.

"Is this person claiming to be (with the) IRS to defraud someone and commit a crime? Or is he potentially suffering from mental illness?" she explained. "We'd need more information to determine if a crime was committed."

Police say that to avoid becoming a victim of theft or burglary, you should make sure that doors and windows to your home and vehicle are locked.