WHEAT RIDGE, Colo. – Some gas stations in Wheat Ridge and Broomfield are being targeted with a certain type of theft.
According to Denver police, the Wheat Ridge Police Department issued a Be On The Lookout alert for three suspects accused of damaging gas station bathrooms as a distraction to steal lottery tickets.
Denver7 found one gas station owner in Wheat Ridge who claims his store is a victim of these crimes.
“One of the guys came in here while I was working,” said Saroj Bausal, who manages a Valero store in Wheat Ridge. “The guy came in and asked my cashier about something, and when she left the cash register he went around the back of the counter and grabbed the keys to the store.”
Bausal said he stopped the suspect.
“That was the first time,” Bausal said. “The second time, I believe it was the same guy.”
Weeks later, Bausal said, the man asked his cashier if he could use the bathroom.
“He was in there for about six minutes,” Bausal said. “When he left, another lady tried to use the bathroom and came to my cashier and said the bathroom was flooded.”
According to Bausal, his cashier went to check the bathroom to fix it.
“That’s when the man came back inside and stole the keys to the store again,” Bausal said.
Bausal has since changed the locks to his store.
The bulletin also warned other agencies about the three suspects damaging bathrooms as a distraction in order to steal lottery tickets.
Sound from the bulletin obtained by Denver7 states the suspects are believed to be two men and a woman, connected to a lighter color Chevy truck.
If you have any information about these thefts, contact the Broomfield Police Department at (303) 438-6400.
