A group of four masked burglars used a stolen car to smash through the doors of a vape shop in Commerce City, Colorado, and stole several items early Friday morning.
The burglary happened around 2:30 a.m. on Friday at the Meadowlark64 vape shop, located at 27th and Larimer streets. The owner of the shop, Damon Miller, shared the surveillance video with 9News, showing the burglars using a bright blue Hyundai sedan with Colorado license plate DTG-193 to ram through the metal bars and glass doors of the shop.
The video shows the burglars getting out of the car and grabbing items from the shop, using Walmart bags to carry them. The items included a fully stocked ATM, various vaping products, and one-of-a-kind art pieces. The burglars also smashed the most expensive display case in the shop, causing more damage.
The video also shows the burglars escaping in two vehicles, one of them being the Hyundai sedan, and the other one being a dark-colored SUV. One of the vehicles came back a few moments later, and one of the burglars ran back inside the shop to get more items.
Owner of the shop speaks out
Miller, who has been running the vape shop for 10 years, said he was shocked and saddened by the burglary, which caused about $18,000 in losses. He said he had been hit before, but never to this extent.
“It’s scary because there seems to be more of a brazen type of attitude when it comes to burglary, theft and crime that in my 10 years I’ve never seen before,” Miller said. “It just begs the questions: What’s next? Can I ever be truly safe here?”
Miller said he opened the shop to provide a safe and friendly place for his customers, who he considers as family. He said he loves his customers and hopes to continue to serve them, despite the challenges and trauma he faces.
“I open the doors every day because of my customers and I love them. I hope I can continue to be there for them,” Miller said.
Police investigation and public appeal
The Commerce City Police Department said they are investigating the burglary and working to identify the suspects. They said they have not made any arrests yet, and they are asking for the public’s help.
Anyone who has information about the burglary or the suspects is urged to contact the Commerce City Police Department at 303-288-1535 or Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at 720-913-7867 (STOP). Crime Stoppers offers a reward of up to $2,000 for information that leads to an arrest.
Maria Garcia is an award-winning author who excels in creating engaging cannabis-centric articles that captivate audiences. Her versatile writing style allows her to cover a wide range of topics within the cannabis space, from advocacy and social justice to product reviews and lifestyle features. Maria’s dedication to promoting education and awareness about cannabis shines through in her thoughtfully curated content that resonates with both seasoned enthusiasts and newcomers alike.
