A 36-year-old man was charged this spring with carrying out 77 smash-and-grab burglaries at suburban Denver businesses across 10 months in 2024.
The man typically targeted closed businesses between midnight and 6 a.m. and broke into the shops either by cutting through lockboxes to access spare keys or breaking through the stores’ windows and doors, according to an April indictment. He then typically grabbed what cash was available in cash registers or safes and left, the indictment alleged.
The targeted businesses included retail stores, restaurants, coffee shops and food trucks in Westminster, Broomfield, Arvada, Thornton and other areas around Denver, according to the indictment. The targeted locations included a Taco Bell, Jersey Mike’s Sub, Jack in the Box and Ziggi’s Coffee, among others.
Investigators believe the man stole about $42,000 from the 75 businesses between February and November 2024 and caused about $77,000 in property damage, according to the indictment. He is also accused of stealing a license plate and attempting burglaries at five other businesses. It appeared no one was hurt in the burglaries.
The man, who is already in prison after he was sentenced in February to a six-year term for a series of business burglaries in Lafayette, is next due in court in August. He is represented by a public defender, who as a matter of policy do not comment on ongoing cases.
