Douglas County deputies warn open garages are inviting thieves inside

Open garage doors are giving thieves a fast path into Douglas County homes, and deputies say the same habit is helping drive a recent rise in garage burglaries and vehicle thefts across the county. The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office says the majority of those cases involve open garages, unlocked vehicles and keys left inside cars.

Deputies say the thefts are often quick and opportunistic. Thieves are checking door handles for easy steals, and once they find a garage left open, they can slip in and grab tools, bikes and other storage items in seconds. The sheriff’s office is urging residents to close garage doors even when they are home, lock vehicles every time and never leave keys inside cars.

The warning lines up with what Castle Rock police have been saying as well. Officers there say suspects have been seen walking through neighborhoods looking for open garage doors, and they note that residential burglaries most often happen between 9 a.m. and 11 a.m., when many people are typically at work. That daytime pattern makes an unsecured garage especially vulnerable.

The sheriff’s office also points residents to its public neighborhood crime map, which is powered by LexisNexis Community Crime Map. The agency says the map excludes sexual assaults, crimes against at-risk juveniles or adults, death investigations, child abuse, domestic violence, stalking and sealed cases. It also warns that the data can contain errors and should be used with caution, not as the sole basis for decisions.

For a wider crime picture, Colorado Crime Statistics, run through the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, groups property crime with burglary, larceny and theft, motor vehicle theft and arson. The state says current-year data are released with a 30-day lag after the previous full month, so local totals can take time to catch up.

Douglas County residents who will be away can also sign up for the sheriff’s housewatch program in parts of the county. Deputies or community safety volunteers will randomly check the outside of homes for unlocked doors or windows while residents are gone. For now, the sheriff’s message is simple: close the garage, lock the car and keep the keys out of reach before a quick stop becomes a costly loss.