COMMERCE CITY, Colo. — A business owner in Commerce City said he is furious after four masked burglars smashed into his vape shop with a stolen car, causing at least $20,000 worth of damage.
“I'm cursing these guys out,” said Alaa Sawaged, owner of Darth Vaper Smoke Shop. “I'm really angry. I mean, this is my livelihood."
The burglary happened just after 3 a.m. Friday at the smoke shop in Commerce City. At first, the burglars attempted to kick in the door. When that didn't work, they used their stolen car as a battering ram, police said.
“I ended up seeing them walk back into their car, and it looked like they were about to leave, when all of a sudden they threw it in reverse and hopped the curb,” Sawaged said.
Video shows the burglars run into the shop with reusable Walmart bags to steal merchandise. Commerce City police said they entered and exited several times, stealing numerous items.
> Watch raw video of the burglary
Sawaged said they stole around $5,000 in vapes.
“We've noticed the last few years from January to the end of March, especially when it's really starting to snow, we know it's going to happen,” Sawaged said. “That's when they come and hit us.”
Sawaged said the trend continues this year.
“My uncle in Highlands Ranch, he has a few shops,” he said. “Five times in three weeks they all got hit."
Sawaged said his business partner owns a vape shop in Wheat Ridge. Police said three masked people broke into that store on Feb. 7.
“Don't be surprised if you get a text from me in the next two weeks saying I got hit again,” Sawaged said to 9NEWS.
Sawaged said he’s already had three break-ins at Darth Vaper Smoke Shop since opening 14 months ago. He said a fourth break-in could be detrimental, and not just for his family.
“It's scary because it's like, ‘Oh, can I afford to keep paying my employees and getting hit like this every other week?’ I can't," he said.
Wheat Ridge and Commerce City police have yet to make any arrests. Investigators are still trying to figure out if the crimes are related.
“I'd almost rather leave the door unlocked at night,” Sawaged said. “Just walk in and take what you want, but don't ruin the whole storefront.”
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