Burglars come up empty-handed after series of Cortez break-ins

Burglars come up empty-handed after series of Cortez break-ins

May 8, 2001

By Aspen C. Emmett
Journal Staff Writer

A string of burglaries that caused more than $1,600 in damages to local businesses last Wednesday night produced a grand total of $2 profit for the perpetrator or perpetrators, according to police records.

Two insurance agencies, two dental offices and a hair salon were the unfortunate targets where back doors were busted in for the minimal gain.

"They went through drawers and cupboards looking for money, but the thing is, we don’t keep money around here," said Wayne Johnson of Johnson Insurance. "It just doesn’t make any sense."

Johnson estimated damages at $800 for the three doors that were broken down at his office.

Foxy Locks, Johnson’s neighbor, was also broken into, though reportedly nothing was there to steal.

Dr. Craig Layton’s dental office and San Juan Dental Clinic both were broken into the same night, yet nothing was reported missing.

Layton’s office reported $50 damage and San Juan, $500.

The Martin Agency was the only business to report a loss outside damages — $2 was missing from a desk, according to police reports.

Cortez Police Chief Roy Lane said there are no suspects in the string of burglaries and he is uncertain whether they were committed by the same persons.

"Just because they were all broken into from the back door, you can’t say they were the same person," Lane said. "You assume that they probably came from the same place, but there’s no way you can tell until you solve them."

The burglaries were not a first for some of the businesses, as both insurance companies had reported attempted break-ins in the past.

"They’d tried a couple months ago, but this time they used a bigger crow bar and went right through two doors. Then, going out, they went through a door that used to be a wall," Johnson said.

Lane said there have been no useable fingerprints or any strong leads to solve the crimes.

"I hate to say what we’re looking for until we find them ... I really don’t know. Burglars are tough to predict until you get there and get whoever’s doing it."