Two teenage burglary suspects in Colorado apparently decided the best place to hide from law enforcement was the middle of a lake. Unfortunately for them, deputies had access to something considerably faster than a paddleboard.
The unusual incident began at Soda Lakes Lodge inside Bear Creek Lake Park, according to the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office in Colorado. Lakewood Park Rangers initially reported finding a shirtless male inside the building who was yelling and smashing walls and windows with two-by-fours.
Authorities say two males eventually left the lodge and headed toward Soda Lakes. Rather than continuing their escape on foot, the pair grabbed paddleboards and made their way into the middle of the water.
That didn’t stop deputies from following them. With assistance from Lakewood Park Rangers, deputies boarded a patrol boat, headed onto the lake, and safely took both juvenile suspects into custody.
Deputies Take to the Water To Catch Suspects
The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office acknowledged that pursuing suspected burglars by boat isn’t exactly an everyday occurrence. The agency joked that the call was “anything but ordinary” when sharing details of the incident on social media.
Deputies were able to make contact with both teenagers while they were still out on Soda Lakes. They safely brought the pair back to shore, bringing their unconventional escape attempt to an end.
Both juveniles were charged with burglary and criminal trespass, according to the sheriff’s office. Authorities did not identify either suspect because of their ages or provide additional information about the extent of the damage caused inside the lodge.
Commenters Can’t Believe the Paddleboard Escape Plan
Unsurprisingly, much of the reaction online centered on the teenagers’ choice of getaway vehicle. One commenter asked whether they “really think they would get away floating around in the middle of a small lake,” while another joked they were only a few miles away from reaching international waters and freedom.
Others compared the attempted escape to something straight out of a television show or movie. One person joked that the teenagers must have watched too many heist movies where criminals escape by boat, except they forgot two important details: “you need an ocean for that… and a boat.”
Of course, the sheriff’s office’s own water-related humor inspired plenty more puns. One commenter summed up the suspects’ predicament with the classic phrase “up a lake without a paddle,” although in this particular case, the teenagers apparently had the paddles t hey just didn’t have a particularly effective escape plan.