GREELEY, Colo. -- It appears that a Greeley man who confessed to stealing guns and even loose change from cars picked just the wrong vehicles.

Authorities say at least three recent break-ins by 26-year-old Nicholas Mininger were of vehicles belonging to police officers. The cars were unmarked, but the break-ins had authorities wondering whether law enforcement was being targeted.

Weld County Sheriff John Cooke was one of the victims. He said that after Mininger was charged, officials concluded the police connection was just "dumb luck or bad luck for him or us."

Mininger faces 36 felony charges in a string of car break-ins and thefts this fall. Police say that Mininger confessed to taking guns, electronics and even loose change from cars to buy cocaine.

A gun was taken from Cooke's car, a rifle taken from Weld County sheriff's deputy's car and a Taser was stolen from a Adams County Sheriff deputy's vehicle, according to the Greeley Tribune.