Grand County Sheriff’s Office deputies are searching for an individual who committed a burglary at a residence in the Winter Park Highlands neighborhood near Tabernash on Friday, Sept. 26.

Deputies are attempting to locate the suspect, according to a Facebook post by the Grand County Sheriff’s Office. He is described as a white male, about six-feet tall, with a thin build. He is approximately 40–50 years old with gray hair and a partial beard.

The suspect was last seen Sept. 26, wearing a gray sweatshirt and gray sweatpants. He is possibly associated with a white Volvo station wagon with the Missouri licenseplate GK3D1J, according to the sheriff’s office.

Details of the burglary and investigation

The Grand County Communications Center received a call about the break-in at the residence at about 4:36 p.m.

When the homeowners arrived at their residence, they saw the Volvo and the suspect in their garage. He was wearing a hat and medical mask.

“An altercation occurred between the male homeowner and the male suspect,” the sheriff’s office stated in a news release. “The suspect then fled the scene in the white Volvo.”

The homeowners did not know who the man was; it was determined he’d broken into the residence through a backdoor window.

Deputies who arrived on the scene were able to obtain a name that was consistent with the registered owner of the Volvo, based on property the suspect had left behind. In their investigation, deputies conducted an extensive search of the Winter Park Highlands area, but were unable to locate the suspect.

The Fraser Winter Park Police Department, Granby Police Department, Colorado State Patrol and Grand County Emergency Response Team assisted in the search.

Suspect no longer believed to be in Grand County

During the search, public safety notifications were sent to the Winter Park Highlands area advising of increased police presence and also broadcasting the suspect’s description and vehicle. The sheriff’s office stated that as of the morning of Sept. 27, it’s believed that the suspect and vehicle are no longer in the Grand County area and there is no further public safety concern.

“This remains a very active investigation and additional specifics are not able to be released at this time to maintain the integrity of the case,” the sheriff’s office wrote to Sky-Hi News.

The office encourages homeowners in the Winter Park Highlands area to check their residences and vehicles and report any suspicious circumstances to their staff, as there is the possibility that the suspect also accessed other properties in the area. To contact their office, call 970-725-3311.