LONGMONT, Colo. — There’s no shortage of color at the Black Kraken Tattoo Studio in Longmont, but there is a shortage of tattoo machines, needles and other equipment.
“It sucks,” co-owner Matthew Minyard said. “Just downright rude and evil, really. It’s like kicking a man while he’s down.”
Minyard is referring to the two burglaries that have occurred at his shop in the last three months.
He said the first happened in May. The second was just this weekend.
“We are just trying to survive, trying to get back on our feet, still hadn’t accomplished that feat and then bang, again,” Minyard said. “We just get hit again."
“It’s almost a violation of our space and we can’t get that back,” co-owner Natasha Minyard added.
Matthew said despite the crimes being months apart, he believes the suspect is the same. The method of entry, through the roof and into the business, didn’t change from crime to crime.
“He cut a hole in our AC unit on the roof, our HVAC, dropped down through the ceiling, then proceeded to use tools that he brought in, some that we have, to break through our wall and break into the business next door.”
Minyard estimates the damages will cost about $12,000 to repair. “I’m really in a giant hole at the moment,” he said.
Minyard also explained he hasn’t been able to get help from the bank because he’s a private contractor. He turned to GoFundMe to hopefully help cover his financial hardships.
“This is how I feed my kids,” Minyard said. “This is how I pay my rent. This is how I afford life and even now with the whole economy as it is, inflation and all the problems that America is having at the moment, this is not the way to go about living life. It’s hard all over, I understand, but there’s another way.”
The Minyards said they’re working with Longmont police to bring the person responsible to justice.
Longmont Police confirmed it is investigating the crimes against the shop.