Since Fall 2018, law enforcement agencies from the Denver metro area to Wyoming have been investigating a series of vehicle break-ins. Eight suspects have been arrested, according to a press release from Fort Collins Police Services.

Suspects allegedly gained entry into unattended vehicles in parks and natural areas by breaking locks and windows. Once inside, they typically stole purses, bags and wallets, then use the credit and debit cards inside to buy high-value electronics and gift cards from retail stores.

The six suspects arrested for these thefts have been identified as Marco Eduardo Pena-Otarola, 32, Cesar Marcos Jacobo Pena-Castro, 37, Francisco Javier Moreno-Diaz, 23, Rodrigo Antonio Beroiza-Placencia, 35, Guillermo Antonio Rivera-Seura, 25, and Ornella Andrea Fuentealba-Mancilla, 19.

Video courtesy of Fort Collins Police Services.

These suspects face multiple counts of money laundering, identity theft, theft, first-degree criminal trespassing and criminal mischief.

Fort Collins Police also investigated incidents in which suspects allegedly stole credit cards from local restaurant patrons. Suspects were said to have used these credit cards to purchase high-value electronics and gift cards from local stores.

The suspects involved were identified as Mircko Joshua Arnechino-Carvajal, 21 and Michelle Esperanza Rodriguez-Alcaino, 19 as well as Fuentealba-Mancilla, 19, who was also involved in the natural area car break-ins.

These suspects face charges of identity theft, theft, unauthorized use of a financial transaction device and money laundering. Officers are asking for the community’s help to identify two additional suspects involved in these thefts.

“A lot of collaborative work went into solving these cases plaguing our community,” said Fort Collins Police Chief Jeff Swoboda in the release. “I want to commend our Property Crimes Unit and loss prevention partners at local businesses. Thanks to their combined efforts, Fort Collins is a safer place.”

Anyone with additional details about these incidents or suspects have been asked to contact Fort Collins Police Property Crime Unit at 970-416-2275, Crime Stoppers of Larimer County at 970-221-6868 or www.stopcriminals.org.

Delaney Allen can be reached at news@collegian.com or on Twitter @DelaneyAllen0.