Sneaker Thieves Target Resale Shop, Again
DENVER (CBS4) - A popular consignment sneaker store on South Broadway was burglarized overnight, making it the second time the store was hit in just three years of business.
The sneaker resale market is said to be worth $1 billion. The merchandise is often rare and exclusive enough to be a hot commodity to thieves when sneakers range in price from a couple hundred dollars up to thousands per pair.
It was 18 months ago when the owners of Vices Sneaker Boutique off Broadway were robbed at gunpoint. That's when they upped their security, with patrons having to be buzzed in. Despite the security upgrades, the sneaker resale shop was hit again early Monday morning.
Noe Magdaleno, a co-owner of Vices Sneaker Boutique, shows CBS4's Jennifer Brice how the thieves go into his store with surveillance video footage.
"They hitched a vehicle to the door frame, drove and pulled it off," Magdaleno showed CBS4. "Then kicked the back door in."
In the video you can see four hooded, masked men storm into the store.
"Then they started ransacking the place with trash bags," said Magdaleno.
Within three to four minutes the thieves were gone.
Magdaleno says the crooks swiped 100 shoes worth about $75,000. The resale sneaker market is a hot one. Many of the sneakers in Vice are limited and exclusive. The shoes run anywhere from a couple hundreds of dollars to several thousand per pair.
"It makes people do crazy things," adds Magdaleno. "That's the ugly side."
Eighteen months ago, the owners of Vice Sneakers were robbed at gunpoint during store hours.
"They zip tied us, blinded us and duct taped our mouths and made us lay here while they robbed the entire place," said Magdaleno.
That's when the owners upped their security. During the robbery Monday morning, Magdaleno says it seems as though the suspects knew the store footprint and security. The thieves even climbed on to the roof to cover an outside camera so their car wouldn't be spotted.
Magdaleno says the first time they were robbed, it put their business on hold, "After recuperating and out there that's just always up to no good, looking to make a quick buck and unfortunately that's at our expense."
The owners have insurance, which should reimburse the consignment customers the dollar value of the shoes, but that reimbursement amount is up to the insurance company.
Anyone with information about the Vices Sneaker Boutique is asked to call the Denver Police Department at (720) 913-2000.
Jennifer Brice is a reporter with CBS4 focusing on crime and courts. Follow her on Facebook or on Twitter @CBS4Jenn.
