Police Say They Caught a Would-Be Burglar Trying To Use Uber as a Getaway Car

(NewsSpace.com) – Many criminals often make stupid mistakes when they are in the midst of a crime that results in them being caught. Many publications dedicate articles to some of these perpetrators, calling them out for their fallacies. Another alleged criminal has added himself to the list for his silly choice of escape.

On January 3, the Wheat Ridge Police took to X, formerly Twitter, to call out a special brand of stupidity. It reminded would-be criminals that “ordering an Uber as your getaway driver makes it that much easier for us to find you.”

Just a reminder: ordering an Uber as your getaway driver makes it that much easier for us to find you 🙃 https://t.co/ZtVBn8tvlc

— Wheat Ridge Police (@WheatRidgePD) January 3, 2024

This particular case focuses on a would-be burglar in Denver, Colorado, who, carrying thousands of dollars of merchandise, didn’t have a way to get away from the crime scene. Instead, he decided it was a good idea to call a rideshare company—Uber, specifically. Video footage, also posted on X, shows the exchange between officers and the suspect, whom the Uber driver identified as “Jose.” The man said he was heading to his mother’s house and lied about his name, saying it was “Raul.” Officers validated the man’s identity through fingerprint records at the police department.

Police were originally called to Blue Sky Plumbing after a 911 caller said there was a hole in the fence and they had footage showing someone stealing tools. Officers found nearly $9,000 worth of Milwaukee tools in the backpack the suspect was carrying.

According to Law & Crime, jail records by the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office show someone by the name of Jose with multiple charges, including possession of burglary tools, larceny greater than $2,000, false reporting to authorities, and criminal trespass.

It seems that hiring a rideshare is what this suspect did. Perhaps when trying to commit a crime, it’s a good idea to have another escape method in mind, or as the Wheat Ridge Police recommend “It may not be the best idea to have an Uber pick you up AT the crime scene.”