Theft suspects arrested in metro area; 1 found hiding in creek

BROOMFIELD – The FBI's Rocky Mountain Safe Streets Task Force and the Broomfield Police Department arrested three members of a South American Theft Group Saturday they say were known to steal tens of thousands of merchandise every day.

According to FBI, the three, whose names were not released, came to Denver from California with the goal to steal from metro area stores.

The FBI says that's what the trio did Saturday at Flatiron Crossing in Broomfield. Agents with the task force tried to stop them as they drove away from the mall, but the driver accelerated. A task force member used his vehicle to stop their car.

All three got out of the car and ran off. Agents were able to arrest two of them immediately. A K-9 unit tracked the third person, who the FBI says was the driver of the car, to a nearby creek. According to the FBI, the driver was under water, trying to hide from authorities.

Broomfield Police took the three suspects into custody. No other information was available Saturday night.