Thieves Continuously Rob Shops On South Broadway
DENVER (CBS4) - A short stretch of businesses on South Broadway Street in Englewood is being targeted by thieves over and over. Since mid-December, 14 stores have been burglarized along a three block stretch.
One of these businesses, Community Service apparel store, has been hit six times since they opened four years ago, three times in the past year alone. The latest was two weeks ago.
Owners Brian Cappel and Richard Langdon say they're doing everything they can to stay safe: extra security cameras have been added, and the doors and windows have been reinforced. But no matter what they do, they said, crooks keep coming back for more.
"They hit us pretty hard," said co-owner Brian Cappel.
Surveillance video showed a concealed figure cleaning out the shelves at Langdon and Cappel's high end streetwear store. In addition, they take "cash, they've gotten a hold of DVRs, computers," said Cappel.
"They comes in with bags, they come in masked up, they come in with gloves on," described Langdon.
In one break in, burglars stole $17,000 worth of merchandise, including designer clothes ironically titled "crooks."
Langdon explained, "We've had our neighbors get hit, there's been multiple armed robberies just a couple blocks down the way from us."
Police say the burglaries occur between midnight and 6 a.m. In some cases, the crooks disarm the alarm system. In others, they simply kick in the door or window, and vanish before police arrive. Detectives believe the break-ins are related.
Langdon agrees: "We know it's the same people -- very similar every single time it occurs."
Despite the extra security cameras and bar reinforcements, the two owners believe they haven't seen the last of the elusive bandits.
"When I go to sleep I have to have my phone right by my head. I know for a fact that I'm probably going to get a call," said Langdon.
Englewood police said they are increasing patrols and following up on several leads. No arrests have been made, though, so if you have any information, call Englewood police.
