Two arrested in Colo. day care theft spree

LONGMONT, Colo. – Two people have been arrested for allegedly staking out day care facilities and breaking into parents’ cars, reports CBS Denver.

Authorities said Christopher Ureste and Bianca Montel were taken into custody Wednesday after a hotel employee in Brighton recognized their mug shots on TV and called police.

The couple is accused of breaking into cars at day cares in Longmont, Loveland, Greeley, Broomfield and several other communities in Colorado. Items reported stolen from the vehicles include wallets, purses and other valuables.

The Longmont Police Department said six day care centers have been targeted in their area.

Longmont Police Commander Jeff Satur told CBS Denver: “Generally moms are rushing, they’re in a hurry and they’re not spending time collecting up their purse.”

Satur said the thieves stole from one car with a child inside.

“It was a 9-year-old child and it scared the death out of that poor kid. She’s sitting in the car, a van and all of a sudden this guy is entering the car and stealing her mom’s purse right in front of her,” said Satur.

According to Satur, the thieves would spend thousands of dollars with credit cards at Walmarts, gas stations, Walgreens, and even a car wash.

Police said that some of the stolen property has been recovered.