Two women and a man were arrested in Jefferson County are believed to be part of an organized theft ring that allegedly stole $80,000 in merchandise from convenience stores.

Anita Jean Duran, 46; Eugenia Isabel Duran, 23; and Kenneth Daniel Cortez, 43, were arrested March 8 after being indicted by a Jefferson County grand jury.

Each was charged with one count of violation of the Colorado Organized Crime Control Act (racketeering), a class two felony, as well as thirty-three felony counts of theft and burglary.

Jefferson County D.A. spokeswoman Pam Russell said the three went into convenience stores, where one or two of them distracted the clerk while the other(s) would find cigarettes, cell phones and other higher priced items to steal.

The stores hit were two Phillips 66 stores, a Conoco store, 7-Elevens and a Western Convenience Store in Lakewood; four Diamond Shamrock stores in Westminster; as well as other convenience stores in Douglas, Arapahoe, Denver and Adams counties.