DENVER — Denver Police Department is on the lookout for a suspect believed to be behind a series of break-ins at businesses on East Colfax.
Business owners in the area suspect it is the same person responsible for all of the burglary incidents.
The Colfax Business District confirmed that six businesses were targeted in the past week, with at least two of the break-ins occurring on the same night.
Vince Howard, the owner of Tessa Delicatessen on East Colfax, described his unsettling experience, "Coming in to find your window broken and a rock that they obviously threw through the window... it's a weird feeling," Howard said.
Howard expressed his determination to protect his business. "I see it as my street, so I want to try to protect it... it seems like someone has just overstepped, and I want to do something about it," he said
The security camera footage in Howard's store shows a shirtless man breaking in just before 2:30 a.m. Monday. He said his office was overturned, and money was taken from the cash register.
"He cut himself getting in the window, and he left lots of blood over there. He filled my flour bin full of beers, and he somehow got out with my safe," Howard said.
The trail of flour and blood led to La Finca, a Colombian restaurant one block away, where owner Jennifer Contreras arrived Monday morning to find a giant rock had been thrown through her front window.
Contreras' security camera captured the same shirtless man breaking in just after 2:30 a.m. The footage showed him touching his back, likely injured and bleeding from his earlier break-in at Howard's restaurant. Inside, Contreras found blood spots on the floor and rags the suspect used to clot his wounds.
"He was very casual, walking around the restaurant. He even grabbed a beer from the bar and was drinking it," she recounted.
Howard also noted the man's nonchalant behavior on his security footage.
"I see him come in, and, you know, grab a cheesecake out of the case, put his paw in my carrot cake and smash it all over his face, and drink a Dr. Pepper," he said.
In one night, the suspect caused thousands of dollars in stolen property and damages. Both Contreras and Howard cleaned up their establishment and reopened on Monday. Howard also learned that a clothing store on East Colfax was targeted the next day.
"It's scary because he's been hitting a lot of businesses in this area and on the same street," Contreras said.
Denver Police have said that the break-ins are under investigation and no arrests have been made. They urge anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers at 720-913-7867 or metrodenvercrimestoppers.com.
"I just would like to have some resolution and maybe have this not happen to anybody else or me again," Howard said.