ARAPAHOE COUNTY, Colo. (KKTV) – The Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office says it is searching for crooks responsible for breaking into nearly a dozen “high value” homes over the past eight months, dubbing them the “Dinner Burglars.”

The sheriff’s office noticed a pattern of crime emerging that began in February and spanned most of the year.

“Across Arapahoe County, at least nine high-value, single-family homes were burglarized around dinner time, typically one to two hours after sunset. The sheriff’s office said in a news release Thursday that the burglaries occurred in open space, greenbelts, canals, trails, golf courses or It occurred in homes with dense tree cover along the property line, he said.

Researchers believe the local pattern is just one part of a much larger pattern occurring across the country. The sheriff’s office said the scammers are believed to be part of several theft groups in South America but did not elaborate further.

“Similar burglaries have occurred in Scottsdale, Arizona, and in Southern California’s San Fernando Valley; suspects have electronically or visually spied on their victims and used jammers to jam home alarm systems, but it is unknown whether the suspects in Colorado did this,” he said. .

In Colorado, the sheriff’s office said the crimes were committed as follows:

“The majority of the burglaries occurred between 5pm and 8pm on Friday, when the homeowners were not at home. Two to four suspects work together wearing masks, hoodies, gloves and sometimes carrying backpacks. They will break the exterior glass door, then snatch closets, dressers and bathrooms.” They are stealing valuables such as jewelry, designer purses, cash and safes. At least one burglary in Cherry Hills Village was foiled by a homeowner who was home at the time.”

Investigators say the nine burglaries resulted in nearly $1 million in stolen property. Thefts were reported in Cherry Hills Village, Littleton, Columbine Valley and a pair of homes in unincorporated Arapahoe County.

Anyone with information is encouraged to call the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office.

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