Denver police have arrested a man they suspect of using children as decoys in a series of thefts.
In April police began investigating cases where a man entered salons and day spas with a child to ask if the youngster could use the restroom. Before leaving the business, the man would rifle through purses and drawers in backrooms to steal valuables, police said.
Surveillance cameras captured images of the robber at several businesses and police forwarded the footage to Denver media which ran or published the material.
The images generated numerous tips, police said, and investigators made an arrest on Wednesday.
The suspect, John Manuel Vallez, 27, is a felon who was recently released from prison, according to police.
Vallez has a lengthy arrest sheet, according to Colorado Bureau of Investigation records, including prior arrests for theft, shoplifting and larceny.
In November of 2007 Vallez was sentenced to two years in the Colorado Department of Corrections.
The children, a boy about 6, and a girl about 7, are known to police. No further information on the children was released.
The investigation is ongoing.
Earlier, police said thefts had occurred in Lakewood and Broomfield as well. Police did not release any information on Friday about a woman who was previously described as being involved in the thefts.
Kieran Nicholson: 303-954-1822 or knicholson@denverpost.com.
