Colorado Man Busted for Break-in by His Own Kids

What happened when a Colorado man and his cohort tried to break into a home to confront an ex-wife and her paramour? Perhaps the dialogue (at least in the back bedroom of the home) went something like this:

"Who's that masked man, breaking through the front door?"

"It's Dad!"

An apparent would-be burglar in Weld County, Colorado, stumbled and bumbled his way to an arrest, when he encountered his own children after allegedly breaking and entering a home.

Raul Gaucin-Valenzuel supposedly broke into his friend's ex-wife's home (with that friend) on Saturday, January 2^nd, crashing right through the front door of the Evans, Colorado, residence. According to several reports, Gaucin-Valenzuel and his friend had planned a confrontation with the woman's new boyfriend.

Unfortunately, for the 33-year-old burglar wannabee, the resident of the home was providing child care for Gaucin-Valenzuel's children.

Despite the bandanna Gaucin-Valenzuel wore on his face, his two children (aged 8 and 11) recognized and identified him immediately.

The Evans, Colorado, and Greeley, Colorado, police forces worked cooperatively to nab the would-be burglar.

Police officers arrested the fleeing Gaucin-Valenzuel in his own home in nearby Greeley, Colorado, charging him with second-degree burglary, as well as child abuse, criminal mischief and menacing. (The child abuse charge became applicable, because minors were in the building when the break-in occurred.)

Gaucin-Valenzuel is currently in the local jail, held on a $21,000 bond.

Where is Evans, Colorado?

Evans, Colorado, is a small community in Weld County, Colorado. Located just south of Greeley, Colorado (the Weld County seat), Evans is known as a residential area with retail and industry.

Evans police still seek evidence and information.

At last report, Evans police officers were still looking for the second man and at least two additional suspects, who may have served as lookouts during the attempted burglary.

Individuals with information pertaining to this case may contact the Evans Police Department by phoning the department (970-339-2441) or by emailing Evans Police Chief Rick Brandt (rbrandt@ci.evans.co.us).

What's the moral of this story?

Perhaps the lessons of this incident are manifold.

First, those who wish to avert a burglary might be well advised to extend hospitality to would-be burglars' own offspring.

On the other hand, burglar wannabees might find it prudent to perform a bit of advanced research, or reconnaissance, to be certain that their own children are not on the premises when they arrive on the scene of a target home.

Of course, the paramount lesson is obvious. What sort of moral example might a parent set by breaking into a home at all, let alone a home in which his own children were staying?

Sources:

http://www.cityofevans.org

http://www.greeleytribune.com

http://www.kmov.com/news

http://www.latimes.com/news

http://www.upi.com

http://www.wkowtv.com