By Randi Pierce
Staff Writer
Multiple burglaries and thefts are on the radar at the Archuleta County Sheriff’s Office and, while a recent Loma Linda burglary is under investigation, another incident of theft was recently solved.
Last Saturday, Sept. 15, the ACSO received a report of a burglary at a home in the Loma Linda subdivision south of Pagosa Springs.
At some point between Aug. 5 and Sept. 15, the home was burglarized to the tune of over $60,000 worth of property, according to Det. Brandon Bishop.
Bishop said items stolen from the property include TVs, four-wheelers and sporting good items.
Because the home’s owners were away at the time of the burglary, Bishop said it is unclear when the burglaries occurred, or if the items were taken in a single incident or during several incidents.
Entry was obtained through a kitchen window, Bishop said.
As part of the ongoing investigation, Bishop said he canvassed the neighborhood around the home and established several leads.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Bishop at the 264-8430.
But, while the ACSO strives to solve the Loma Linda burglary, the office can check off another incident of theft as “solved,” with a Pagosa Springs man now in custody for the theft of about $2,200 worth of power tools taken from the local water and sanitation district’s campus.
On Aug. 22, the ACSO received a report that $2,200 worth of power tools stolen approximately a week prior from Pagosa Area Water and Sanitation District, located at 100 Lynn Ave.
Following the burglary, Bishop said he received a tip that included the name of the man who allegedly stole the tools — Adam Allen, 31, of Pagosa Springs.
A search warrant was subsequently executed at Allen’s home at 358 Fireside Drive in the Vista subdivision, and one stolen saw was recovered.
That same night, through interviews, Bishop discovered that Allen had worked on a job site on Apple Street (in town). More stolen tools were then recovered from that location, found in a backpack under a residence.
The next day, Bishop said he, “on a hunch,” visited the house of Allen’s parents, where the remaining stolen tools were found. Bishop added that Allen had reportedly stashed the tools under the house that morning.
An arrest warrant was issued for Allen, who turned himself in Thursday, Sept. 13.
Charges were set to be filed against Allen Wednesday afternoon, after presstime.
Deputy District Attorney Alex Lowe said Wednesday morning the DA’s office would look to file three charges against Allen — theft (a class-four felony), criminal mischief (a class-two misdemeanor) and second-degree criminal trespass (a class-three misdemeanor).
Lowe said, strictly according to statute, the incident does not qualify as burglary because no building or occupied structure was entered.
randi@pagosasun.com
