Aspen Police secure arrest warrants in 2021 Louis Vuitton burglary case
Multi-Agency collaboration leads to charges against suspects involved in $439,000 merchandise heist
Jonson Kuhn/The Aspen Times
Aspen Police Department have secured arrest warrants for two men in connection with the 2021 burglary at Aspen’s Louis Vuitton store, located at 206 South Mill Street.
Mauricio Andres Gandolfi Bahamondes, 37, and Diego Hernan Enrique Reyes Bahamondes, 33, have been charged with second-degree burglary, class 4 felony; theft, class 3 felony, conspiracy, class 6 felony; and criminal mischief, class 1 misdemeanor.
According to a press release, both men are Chilean citizens, and are currently on an Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainer at the Downtown Detention Center in Nashville, TN, where they were arrested for aggravated burglary. Both men have a $100,000 bond for those charges, as well as each carrying a $500,000 bond for the charges in Aspen.
Aspen Detective Sgt. Rick Magnuson told city officials that the Colorado Information Analysis Center shared a burglary bulletin with all other states. From there, a detective in Brentwood, TN, saw the bulletin, which is what Magnuson said eventually led to a “big break in the case.”
When the two suspects were apprehended for allegedly breaking into a residence in Brentwood, their rental car vehicle was detected through a license plate reader.
Additionally, Kansas State Patrol pulled Bahamoondes over for speeding, which helped with identification due to the officer’s body camera showing his face, as well as a distinctive tattoo on his arm, which was visible on the Enterprise Rental Car surveillance footage obtained in Denver.
“Securing these arrest warrants marks a significant advancement in our ongoing investigation. The diligence of our team, in collaboration with other agencies, has been pivotal,” stated Aspen Police Chief Kim Ferber. “I also want to underscore the invaluable role that our community has played. Their prompt response to our video surveillance request was instrumental in reaching this critical milestone.”
Magnuson said in a statement police obtained video footage from not only Louis Vuitton, but also Wheeler Opera House, Aspen Jewish Center, Panerai Aspen, the Aspen Store, Enterprise Rental Car in Denver, and RFTA to help assist in the investigation.
Between the hours of 8:30 p.m. and 11 p.m. on June 5, 2021, the two suspects reportedly entered an unlocked hallway in the back of the Louis Vuitton store and proceeded to use an unspecified cutting tool to a hole in the drywall to gain access into the storeroom, according to police.
The suspects were said to be in the store for approximately an hour before leaving with $439,000 worth of merchandise.
The following morning, after employees discovered that the store had been burglarized, surveillance video was examined and two rental vehicles were identified as being used by the suspects.
The surveillance footage also showed a woman who appeared to have been involved in the burglary, as well. As of Monday, police were unable to comment as to whether it’s believed additional suspects are still at large.
The Aspen Police Department investigations teams worked with the Colorado Information Analysis Center, Kansas State Patrol, and the Brentwood Police Department in Brentwood Tennessee to determine the identity of the two suspects.
Every person accused of a crime is presumed to be innocent unless and until his or her guilt is established beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
To reach Jonson Kuhn, email him at jkuhn@aspentimes.com.
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