Aurora's crime cameras and analysts helped officers zero in on a vehicle reported stolen out of Washington last week, ending in a grappler stop, a traffic stop, and an arrest near Peoria Street, according to police.
The city's Real Time Information Center, or RTIC, tracked the car on camera to a parking lot near Peoria Street and Colfax Avenue, where analysts watched in real time and guided officers in as units closed the distance. Police say the vehicle was recovered and two people were detained without incident. Not exactly a stealthy getaway.
According to the Aurora Police Department, RTIC analysts followed the stolen vehicle as it moved through the area, then watched it pull into the lot near Peoria and Colfax and relayed constant updates to officers on the ground. Officers used a grappler device to keep the vehicle from taking off, then later carried out a traffic stop near 11th Avenue and Peoria Street.
Police identified the driver as 48-year-old Jasmine Penix and said she was arrested on charges related to motor-vehicle theft. Investigators wrote that the driver "was unaware the vehicle had been reported stolen" and that a passenger had taken the car from its owner in Washington months earlier, according to the Aurora Police Department.
How RTIC Spotted the Car
Aurora's Real Time Information Center pulls live city cameras, license-plate readers, and drone feeds into a single operations room, giving analysts tools to follow vehicles and pass locations to officers in the field. That setup has helped the department recover dozens of stolen vehicles and support hundreds of investigations since 2025, as reported by Denver7.
Grapplers, Plate Readers and Pursuit Tactics
The grappler, a bolt-on tool that hooks around a rear tire to immobilize a fleeing vehicle, has become part of the equipment Colorado agencies use to cut down on dangerous high-speed chases. Regional reporting shows that grappler deployments combined with camera and plate-reader tips have helped bring suspects to a stop, including a case where Douglas County deputies used the device to end a high-speed DUI chase while working with Aurora police, as per Hoodline.
Aurora police posted the initial account of last week's arrest on X and said booking and charging decisions will be handled by prosecutors. Anyone with information is asked to call Aurora911's non-emergency dispatch at 303-627-3100 via Aurora911 or contact Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at 720-913-7867.
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