Elitch Gardens patrons can quickly become theft victims if they’re not paying attention, the Denver7 Investigates team learned first hand.

Nearly two dozen thefts have been reported since the beginning of the season, nearly a third of them occurred outside of the Mind Eraser roller coaster, according to data and records obtained by Denver7.

Shepard Saabye and his teenage sister, both from Monument, said thieves stole roughly $1,600 worth of their belongings that they placed inside of a backpack — two iPhones, a wallet and more — while they were on the ride in late June.

They said the park removed free cubbies that used to be on the coaster’s platform and instead ask riders to pay for $2, one-time use lockers toward the ride’s entrance.

Riders are told not to carry any loose objects while aboard the ride.

Left without the ability to pay for a locker, the Saabyes said they set their bag in front of the lockers like roughly a dozen other people had done. When they returned roughly 25 minutes later, their bag was gone.

Denver7 had received tips about the theft issue over the last month and a half.

In an effort to determine if the issue was as severe as viewers indicated, the Denver7 Investigates team placed a backpack in the same area as the Saabyes had set down their bag.

Within 15 minutes, thieves moved in.

“Hey man, yo, can I get my bag back?” a Denver7 photojournalist is heard saying on an undercover camera as he retrieved the bag.

The man who was wearing Denver7’s backpack refused to answer any questions, but did return the bag. No one from Elitch Gardens approached Denver7 during the exchange.

Minutes later, teenager Trashan Ward from Miami, said someone stole his backpack too.

“What’s the purpose of having a ride knowing that people are going to have bags, and you’re making someone pay for a locker,” he asked.

To read more of this story and watch the video, go to thedenverchannel.com