Jason Pohl

jasonpohl@coloradoan.com

The man accused of burglarizing two Fort Collins police cars last week and swiping a pair of assault rifles in the process left a bank card with his name on it sitting on the front seat, documents show.

Carlos J. Chavez, 27, was charged earlier this week with the break-in of two marked patrol cars and theft of department-issued rifles in northeast Fort Collins. The brazen overnight crime spree made headlines across Colorado and the country, and arresting documents shed new light on the investigation that included cell phone tracking, bank record evaluations and a little bit of luck.

An officer first reported his patrol vehicle had been broken into at 7:59 a.m. Oct. 24, and a second officer down the street soon learned his vehicle had been burglarized, too.

The driver side window of both officer's vehicles was smashed, and the Rock River Arms LAR-15 rifle was swiped from each, according to an arrest affidavit. At least one red dot rifle sight, five 30-round magazines – each containing 28 rounds of .223-caliber ammunition – and a flashlight were reported stolen from the pair of vehicles.

A detective processing the scene found a Wells Fargo debit card with Chavez's name sitting on the driver's seat of the second vehicle, police wrote. Detectives contacted a bank investigator to assist.

Chavez reported the card as stolen Oct. 24 – the same day the rifles were reported missing.

Fort Collins police got a warrant to ping Chavez's cell phone number that was on file with the bank and traced it to suburban Denver. Through bank and phone records, they found Chavez primarily stayed in Denver, significant because it is "unlikely" someone would steal a card and drive an hour to Fort Collins "without attempting to make a purchase," police wrote.

Neither rifle had been recovered as of Friday. Authorities have not yet released Chavez's booking photo as the investigation is ongoing, though it will be released in coming days.

Chavez, a previously convicted felon with charges in both Colorado and Texas, was arrested Saturday, Oct. 25, in Arapahoe County on a traffic stop. He has since been transferred to the Larimer County Jail and formally charged with trespass, illegal possession of weapons and theft of items totaling $2,000 to $5,000. All are felonies.

Chavez is being held onf a $25,000 bond and is next due in court Thursday, Nov. 6.

Reporter Jason Pohl covers breaking news for the Coloradoan. Follow him on Twitter: @pohl_jason.