A pair of determined thieves used power tools to cut through locks and steal bicycles from an underground parking garage in downtown Durango over the weekend.
The thefts occurred on both Saturday and Sunday mornings at the Mears Building, located at 543 East Second Avenue. The building houses studio suites above the parking garage, according to the Durango Police Department.
Among the stolen items was a Trek e-bike owned by Christina Rinderle, a local real estate broker and former Durango mayor. Surveillance footage captured the suspects, who were wearing masks, one of them using a grinding saw to cut through locks, with sparks flying through the air as they worked. “They were bold, they drove into the garage,” Rinderle said.
Rinderle expressed concern that these thefts could be part of a larger wave of criminal activity in Durango. She has learned of other thefts in the area and spoken to friends who have experienced attempted robberies at their homes. “It’s really hard to see a lot of people dealing with break-ins around the community anytime of year, but especially at the holidays,” Rinderle said. “It feels a little grinchy.”
This is the second time this year that thieves have targeted the Mears parking garage. Back in April, Rinderle had two bikes stolen, including an e-bike and a Santa Cruz mountain bike. At that time, the garage door was inoperable, allowing easy access for the thieves. Last weekend, the suspects managed to gain access again, possibly by learning the garage door code or using technology to remotely open it, Rinderle speculated.
In response to the thefts, the building has upgraded its security, including the installation of additional cameras. However, Durango Police Cmdr. Nick Stasi noted that bike thefts have been a recurring problem in the area. He added that thieves are increasingly using tools to cut through locks, a trend that has become more common recently.
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