Colorado Springs: CSPD and regional partners conclude lengthy investigation leading to arrests in commercial burglary, vehicle theft, and attempted ATM theft cases

The Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD) Property Crimes Unit, in partnership with multiple regional law‑enforcement agencies, has concluded a complex, months‑long investigation into a series of commercial burglaries, organized motor‑vehicle thefts, and ATM thefts occurring throughout El Paso, Teller, and Pueblo Counties.

Between July 3 and July 7, 2026, a series of commercial burglaries occurred in Colorado Springs, during which the suspect forcibly entered businesses and attempted to remove ATMs using a stolen U-Haul. The CSPD Metro Theft Unit and Burglary Unit immediately initiated an investigation into the crime pattern. On July 8, the U‑Haul was used in a burglary at a convenience store in Florissant, Colorado. The business owner encountered the suspect vehicle leaving the scene and immediately notified authorities. Teller County Sheriff's Office deputies located the vehicle and pursued it until the suspect crashed near Deer Ridge Trail. The suspect fled on foot and was not located at that time.

The criminal pattern resumed on August 6, when the suspect stole a second U‑Haul and attempted to commit another ATM theft at a business in the 6800 block of North Centennial Boulevard. On August 27, the suspect stole an additional vehicle from a commercial business in Pueblo, Colorado.

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CSPD Property Crimes detectives quickly identified the stolen Pueblo vehicle with assistance from its owner and determined the driver to be 42‑year‑old James Garcia. On September 15, coordinated efforts between the Real-Time Crime Center (RTCC), Tactical Enforcement Unit (TEU), CSPD K9 Unit, and Property Crimes detectives led to the arrest of Garcia and his girlfriend, 39‑year‑old Susannah Wachlin, for their involvement in the Pueblo vehicle theft.

Immediately following these arrests, CSPD Property Crimes detectives, working jointly with the Teller County Sheriff's Office, executed a search warrant at the suspects' residence in Teller County. Evidence recovered further linked Garcia to multiple burglaries and thefts across the region.

On September 23, Garcia was formally arrested and booked into the El Paso County Criminal Justice Center on multiple felony charges, including eight counts of second‑degree burglary, one count of attempted second‑degree burglary, three additional counts of motor vehicle theft, vehicular eluding, and two counts of criminal mischief

Garcia's criminal history includes numerous felony convictions dating back to 2007. He is currently on parole through the Colorado Department of Corrections for a 2019 burglary in which he used a stolen vehicle to steal an ATM and is also on federal probation for a 2018 gun store burglary.

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This latest case illustrates the extensive victimization inflicted on local businesses, financial institutions, and vehicle owners across multiple jurisdictions. It also highlights the complex investigative demands placed on law‑enforcement agencies when suspects deliberately exploit geographic boundaries and stolen vehicles to evade detection.

CSPD acknowledges and thanks the Teller County Sheriff's Office, Pueblo-area law enforcement partners, the RTCC, TEU, CSPD K9 Unit, and affected business owners for their cooperation and rapid information sharing. These collaborative efforts were essential to establishing suspect identification, recovering stolen property, and safely effecting arrests.

CSPD continues to work closely with the El Paso County District Attorney's Office through vertical prosecution strategies, ensuring that investigators and prosecutors remain aligned from case initiation through sentencing. This approach supports stronger case continuity, more effective prosecution, and enhanced accountability for repeat offenders who pose significant risks to the community.

Anyone with information related to this series of cases is asked to call CSPD at 719-444-7000.  If you wish to remain anonymous, you may call the Crime Stoppers Tip Line at 719-634-STOP (7867) or 1-800-222-8477.

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