PARKER — Several cash register drawers were found at the Parker United Methodist Church Monday morning after at least seven businesses were burglarized in smash-and-grabs overnight, Parker police said in a news release.
Investigators are at the church, located at 11805 Pine Drive, processing evidence, police said.
Between 3:11 a.m and 3:39 a.m., five smash-and-grab burglaries happened along Parker Road between Lincoln Avenue and South Twenty Mile Road, according to police Public Information Officer, Penny McLean.
The owner of Donut House said their Parker location will not open Monday as a result of the break-in. Moe Aladayleh also said some cash had been taken but he wasn't sure how much was missing.
"As a business owner, it's expensive, they do $1,000 worth of damage to steal like 100 to 200 bucks in cash, it's ridiculous," Aladeyleh said. "These small businesses are the ones that are suffering."
The following four restaurants and hair salon were targeted within 28 minutes, McLean said.
- Colonna’s Pizza – 11215 S. Parker Road
- Hangry Ohana – 10471 S. Parker Road
- Papa Murphy’s 18741 Ponderosa Drive
- Donut House – 9807 S. Parker Road
- Great Clips 9811 S. Parker Road
Just before 7 a.m. police responded to a 6th smash-and-grab at La Casita Mexican Restaurant, located at 18951 Main Street, according to McLean. In a release just after 9 a.m., Parker police said that the Honey Baked Ham at 18870 E. Plaza Drive was also targeted.
The only suspect at this time is a man who was dressed in all black, police said in their news release. They're in the process of reviewing surveillance video from the various businesses.
If you have any information about these burglaries, please contact the Parker Police Department at 303-841-9800.
Parker is the latest city to be hit with smash-and-grab incidents during the overnight hours. Last week similar incidents were reported in Arvada, Denver, and the Littleton area of Jefferson County.
On Oct. 11, numerous Arvada businesses were targeted by thieves who also used landscaping rocks to smash the windows, police said in a news release. That same morning, two suspects broke into Cake Crumbs bakery at 2216 Kearney St. in Denver around 3:30 a.m. The very next morning, four people were seen on a security camera breaking into a Highland restaurant.
Earlier in the week on Tuesday, six businesses were hit in the Littleton area, the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office said.
Denver Police said in total, there have been about 100 smash-and-grabs in the metro area since the summer. While several different groups are responsible for the break-ins, Denver Police in each case the suspects arrive at small businesses in stolen cars in the middle of the night, then use rocks to break windows or pry tools to open doors and enter those businesses.
When 9NEWS asked if the Arvada cases and the most recent smash-and-grab at La Mexicana Taqueria are connected, a division chief with Denver police said, “there’s reason to suspect they are linked.”
