DENVER — A suspect involved in last week's robbery of the historic Squeeze Inn bar in Denver may be connected to a series of burglaries in Arvada and North Denver. The breakthrough came when a car wash owner recognized the suspect while watching the story about the bar break-in on 9NEWS.
John Zayac owns two ProClean Auto Washes in North Denver and Arvada. He said he experienced a moment of déjà vu when he saw the security camera footage of two men breaking into the Squeeze Inn.
"I looked at it and I go, 'Oh my heavens, it’s the same people,'" Zayac said.
His two businesses were also targeted. Both locations captured security footage of a man in a blue tracksuit, accompanied by an accomplice, using a sledgehammer and pickaxe to force their way in.
The suspects’ distinctive attire, tools, and white pickup truck were captured on video at all three businesses. That convinced Zayac that the crimes were connected. After matching the license plate from the bar's footage to footage from his video, he became convinced that it was not a coincidence.
"We kind of call him the polyester guy because he wears a red or a blue polyester suit," Zayac noted.
Zayac began investigating further and discovered even more businesses had been hit. Security footage from A&R Power Wash on Chase Drive in Arvada showed a man in a red tracksuit with the same white pickup truck and license plate, sledgehammer, and chain.
“I don't know if I'd call myself a detective, I’m just trying to support our business community. I think, you know, we all got to be watching out for each other,” Zayac said.
The suspect employed the same methods, targeting businesses from Sunday through Thursday last week, causing tens of thousands of dollars in damage at each spot.
The Denver Police Department (DPD) confirmed they're investigating the incidents as potentially connected.
Each burglary followed a similar modus operandi: the suspects exerted significant effort to break in or extract cash. In the bar burglary, they chained the ATM to their truck and pulled it through the front window. At the car washes, they spent up to 45 minutes smashing the door with tools.
Despite their efforts, the thieves’ haul was modest. At Zayac's car washes, they stole roughly $125-$150 in quarters at each location. At A&R Power Wash, they left empty-handed but still caused substantial damage.
In each footage, the man in the tracksuit has an accomplice, and in one video, the second person appears to be a child.
"It bothers me to see the younger individual on the video. We're confused. It scares me that someone that young is in that environment,” Zayac said.
Zayac said coordinating with multiple police departments has added to the challenge, but he is determined to assist the investigations by gathering security camera footage.
"We're hoping these people are brought to justice. That's a lot of damage, and it hurts a family business," he said.
DPD has confirmed that these burglaries are still under investigation, and no arrests have been made yet. Anyone with information is urged to contact the police.