Broomfield, CO--Crews searching for three shoppers missing at Flatiron Crossing since last Sunday made good progress today and say they are "closer than ever" to locating the shoppers. A much-needed break in conditions gave crews a small window of opportunity to comb previously inaccessible mall acreage and narrow their search significantly.
"We were able to cover much more ground today than any of the last previous days combined," Sheriff Jed McGraw said. "Conditions were such that we moved a lot of people and equipment. We expect to find something in the very near future."
Christmas shopping crowds, weather, and mechanical holiday displays hampered rescue efforts throughout the week and into the weekend. One crew member even had to be rescued himself when he became entangled in a moving Santa's sleigh and reindeer attraction.
The missing shoppers' families, for the eighth straight day, hunkered down with officials in nearby condominiums, awaiting word on their loved ones' fates.
"Again, we are hopeful, and we are confident our loved ones will be home for Christmas," Terry Cinnabon, Tim Cinnabon's wife said.
Cinnabon and two friends, Marla Michaels and Carla Abercrombie entered the shopping complex more than a week ago for what was supposed to be a quick trip to get a small number of items. They knew what they wanted, where they wanted to go and the route they would take, friends familiar with the trio's plans have said. By all accounts, they were experienced mall shoppers.
The route, though not unusual, was one of the more difficult traverses through Flatiron Crossing, according to experts.
"It was not the customary route," shopping complex expert Ted Mallrat said. "It is not something I would have attempted at this mall even in the summer."
The shoppers may have been setting themselves up for disaster by attempting the traverse in December when hordes, weather and holiday attractions make quick shopping difficult if not impossible.
The last contact made by any of the shoppers was a brief cell phone call Cinnabon made to his wife last Sunday. At that time, Cinnabon said they were in trouble, but had found a safe place for the time being. They were going to stay put and wait for conditions to improve before attempting to depart the mall complex, he said. GPS technology pinpointed the call as coming at or near the two-story climbing wall in Gart, a retail sporting goods outlet. Cinnabon's phone has only emitted sporadic faint signals since then.
Mallrat said the best course of action, given the conditions, was for the shoppers to hunker down out of the elements, and that Gart was a sensible place to do just that.
"There are tents there, sleeping bags, hand warmers, you name it," Mallrat said. "If the GPS is accurate, and that was their location, I am hopeful that they did the right thing and have withstood the severe conditions somewhere in the vicinity of the Gart store."
Search teams were hoping to reach the Gart climbing wall as early as this afternoon, but were turned back several yards from their destination by a parade of human nutcrackers and the Polar Express, an 18-car childrens train ride running throughout Flatiron Crossing.
"We hope to get back at it tomorrow," Sheriff Jed McGraw said. "And when we do, if the conditions are right, we expect to find those shoppers and bring 'em home."
Anyone attempting shopping excursions at any large, multi-story shopping complex in the next week should make sure conditions are not too hazardous to make the return trip and should remember to take proper precautions before leaving the safety of your automobile, McGraw said.
"And never go in alone."
