Alleged Garage Crasher Charged In Denver Pot Plant Theft Spree

DENVER, CO -- A man accused of crashing cars through garage doors to steal marijuana plants from illegal grows was arraigned in Denver court Friday. Jeremiah James, 19, was arrested in August, 2017 in connection with six different marijuana garage-grow heists.

According to police, James, with unnamed accomplices, allegedly smashed a car (often a stolen vehicle) five times into overhead doors in garages where he believed illegal marijuana cultivation operations were hidden. Marijuana plants were then removed from the garages, police said.

Three burglaries occurred on the same date: July 12, 2017 between 2 and 3 a.m. on different blocks of North Perry Street, an arrest affidavit said. Garages in the 3200 and 2000 appeared on surveillance video to have been smashed with a 2011-13 Hyundai Elantra, traced by police to an owner in Lakewood. Another stolen car allegedly used in the smash and grab scheme was found abandoned, but items inside were traced back to unnamed persons allegedly involved in the burglaries. The garage in the 3200 block did not have a marijuana grow operation inside at the time, police said.

When questioned by police in August, James reportedly admitted to three other pot grow burglaries in the 2000 block of North Perry Street, the affidavit said. On March 8, 2017, James allegedly used a rock to break a garage window and then opened the garage door and removed marijuana plants. On April 8 and June 23, James reportedly told police he rammed the front door of a garage with a stolen truck to break into the marijuana grow.

James as charged with six counts of 2nd-degree burglary.

His next hearing is April 27.

Image via Denver District Attorney's Office