Aurora teen charged in burglaries to motor vehicles

Aurora police say many of his victims made 19-year-old Jonnie Simmons' alleged heists too easy by missing one quick step: They didn't lock their car doors.

Simmons, 19, of the 1000 block of Pheasant Run Lane in Aurora, was charged with two counts of burglary to motor vehicles Wednesday, although police believe he also may have been involved in several more burglaries on the city's far east side. The majority of the cars and trucks were unlocked and most had valuable items in plain sight, police said.

Police said they were called to a home in the 3100 block of Wild Meadow Lane about 5 p.m. Wednesday and found two cars parked in the driveway had been burglarized. The thief had removed a cell phone and cash.

Police spokesman Dan Ferrelli said officers used "some good old-fashioned police work" to trace the items to Simmons' house.

After securing a search waiver from the homeowner, police found numerous stolen items in the teen's bedroom, including the items allegedly taken on Wild Meadow Lane. In addition, a GPS device was found from a burglary that was reported about 7:35 a.m. Wednesday in the 0-99 block of South Oakhurst Drive. Other items recovered in the bedroom included several other cell phones, two digital cameras and cash, most of which has been returned to their rightful owners.

Chief Greg Thomas, in a written statement, warned of the potential increase in thefts and burglaries as the economy suffers.

"These types of crimes would drop if people took the time to lock and secure valuables" Thomas wrote. "Today's economic conditions also may increase these types of thefts so it is important that citizens take an extra few seconds to lock their vehicles and hide their valuables."

Police received numerous calls of vehicles that had been burglarized and after talking with Simmons, believe he was involved in many of the incidents that all occurred in the same general area. Several of the calls turned out to be for vehicles that were ransacked but nothing was taken so many of the owners declined to file reports.