Drone Technology, Phone Tracking Lead to Swift Arrest in Timnath Auto Theft
A Denver man accused of stealing a 2019 Kia Soul from a Timnath-area business was arrested within an hour using phone location data and sheriff's drone technology, ending with his capture near a burning vehicle in a farm field Monday morning.
The arrest underscores how Larimer County deputies are using real-time technology to combat vehicle theft as Colorado battles a statewide crisis of auto crime.
A Timnath business owner called 911 just after 4:30 a.m. on January 12 to report his Kia stolen from the 400 block of Centro Way. The owner tracked the vehicle using location data from a phone left inside and provided dispatchers with periodic updates to guide the search.
Around 5:20 a.m., deputies found the Kia burning in a field near Timnath Reservoir. The vehicle and a nearby tree were engulfed in flames when deputies arrived. The suspect fled into a nearby neighborhood, but deputies spotted him with drone technology as he emerged from a swampy area. When he tried to enter a law enforcement vehicle, he was taken into custody.
Deputies arrested Jared Rosier, 35, of Denver, on charges including First Degree Aggravated Motor Vehicle Theft, Second Degree Arson, Criminal Mischief ($5,000–$19,000), Criminal Trespass on Agricultural Land, and other counts. He was issued a $5,000 cash/surety bond.
"This outcome is a direct result of well-coordinated teamwork and technology," said Undersheriff Joe Shellhammer, who leads the Operations division. "I hope this sends a strong message to anyone thinking about stealing cars or damaging land in Larimer County. We're committed to keeping this community safe and helping victims find justice."
Colorado led the nation in motor vehicle thefts in 2022 with a rate of 785.7 per 100,000 residents—nearly three times the national average of 282.7, according to state crime data. The rate dropped 17 percent in 2023 to 654.8 per 100,000. Statewide data show a 21 percent decrease in the motor vehicle theft rate from the fourth quarter of 2023 to the first quarter of 2024, marking the lowest rate in three years.
In 2022, property crimes—destruction, vandalism, and theft from vehicles—accounted for 79 percent of secondary crimes linked to auto theft statewide.
The Larimer County Sheriff's Office credited Fort Collins Police, Timnath Police, CSU Police, Windsor-Severance Fire Rescue, and Weld County dispatch for assisting.