This happened a couple weeks ago, but I thought I'd share.

I stopped by Sportsman's at 84th and I-25 to pick up some .223 for a Service Rifle Match I was shooting in the following Saturday.

I walked in at 7:05 PM. I walked out at 7:20. As walked out to the parking lot I pulled the keys out of my pocket and looked up at my truck ('99 Ford F350 powerstroke) less the 50 ft from the front door, parked under a big light. I noticed my dome light was on. ??? I started to jog towards the truck and noticed the driver door opening, and a small white Mitsubishi Lancer parked way to close to my truck. I caught a glance of a kid's head in the driver seat area. I instantly hit the panic button on my key remote and it must of scared the crap out of the kid who was inside the truck. As I rounded the end of the truck I already had my cell phone out as the kid shut the back door on the Mitsu, and the car took off.

I got his plate number and a great description of the car. White 200-2002 Mitsubishi Lancer with the plate 640 MDX. I yelled at the four Hispanic boys in the car informing them that I have their plate # and I know what they look like! They all looked at me, and one of them started yelling back and gave me a one fingered salute. The driver looked like he had seen a ghost!

I called then Police and waited for Thornton's finest. I talked to several other guys coming out of Sportsman's and told them to check for anything stolen. One guy said he'd just purchased a shotgun and left it on the seat with the door to his truck unlocked! Another guy said he had a Kimber Eclipse on his front seat along with a $1200 camcorder! And they break into MY truck. After about five minutes Officer Nordgren (very cool guy, we talked about our Benelli shotguns) responded and took the information I had. He said the plate was good, and it was registered to a guy in Aurora. I glanced over to the screen in the car and saw the name listed. I understand very little will happen to the offenders, as they really didn't do any damage. The used a screwdriver to open my driver door and I must have caught the kid just opening the door. He did scratch my door, and broke one tab off of my CD player's install kit.

Very strange thing. I am greatful the kid got scared and ran rather than turned and escalated the situation. there were four of them, so there is no telling what could have happened. I was carrying too.

What kind of moron breaks into a truck outside of Sportsman's Warehouse? I bet half of the customers either have guns in their cars or on their person!

So the funny part. I Googled the guy's name (Ramon Lopez), the next morning and I found a listing ( 1666 Clinton St.) and a phone number. This guy (probably the Dad) lives less than ten blocks from my shop. I must wonder, did they follow me from work, or was it just pure chance they were out breaking into cars in Thornton. I do drive by that address every now and then, as I'd like to have a talk with this kid's Dad.

Yeah. Like that'll do any good.