SALT LAKE CITY — Four individuals were arrested in connection to a series of property thefts spanning Colorado and Utah, with officials confirming the arrests this week following a coordinated multi-agency investigation. The suspects, all apprehended in Colorado, have been linked to a range of motor vehicle thefts and stolen property valued at over $170,000.
The suspects were identified as Luis Leiva Arizmendiz, 20; Nerio Estrada Soto, 19; Roberto Soto Cruz, 35; and Lorena Mendoza Soto, 29. The arrests were the result of a lengthy investigation involving law enforcement agencies from both states. Colorado’s Garfield County Sheriff’s Office announced the arrests last Friday, while Utah officials confirmed their involvement on Tuesday.
“This case is a testament to the great teamwork across agencies,” the Pleasant Grove Police Department said, acknowledging a local detective’s pivotal role in the operation. The investigation focused on multiple vehicle thefts throughout Utah, contributing to the suspects’ eventual capture.
The individuals face multiple charges, including two counts of second-degree motor vehicle theft, theft exceeding $100,000, and conspiracy. Authorities recovered a significant amount of stolen property during the operation, which included two trucks, two Polaris Rzrs, two trailers, and a Polaris Rzr frame.
According to the Garfield County Sheriff’s Office, the group is suspected of being responsible for several thefts across both Colorado and Utah, operating in both states for an extended period. The operation gained momentum when a suspect vehicle was identified in eastern Utah on April 15. Law enforcement believed the suspects were planning to return to Colorado with the stolen items the following day—a strategy law enforcement suspects they’ve used before.
The timely intervention of officers, who intercepted the suspects upon their entry into Colorado, led to the recovery of the stolen property within hours. “Had it not been for this operation, it’s likely the stolen vehicles would never have been recovered,” the sheriff’s office noted.
The investigation involved the collaborative efforts of eight agencies, including the Pleasant Grove Police Department, all of which played a crucial role in bringing the suspects to justice. The individuals have been booked into the Garfield County Jail in Colorado, where they will face the listed charges.
