AURORA, Colo. — A small business dealing with a big crime problem said it must close its doors to stay afloat because of safety concerns.
MacKenzie Hardt and his wife opened Hardt Family Cyclery at the corner of East 25th Avenue and Galena Street four years ago this month. They recently closed the doors and are operating under an “appointment-only” business model because of a rash of burglaries and thefts since last October.
“At this point we are angry," Hardt said. "We are disheartened. We want to be here to support our community. That’s what we are about."
In the most recent theft on Saturday, bike shop security cameras captured thieves driving an SUV into the shop’s garage door. Within five minutes, the burglars made off with about $35,000 worth of e-bikes, Hardt said.
> Watch the surveillance video below:
Hardt said he suspected thieves have been scouting out his business before burglaries because they seem to be targeting very specific high-end bikes.
“For safety reasons, we are now appointment-only and can only open the door using the doorbell system to work with people we know and to vet new clients as they come in,” Hardt said.
He said police have been polite and kind when they respond to theft calls; however, they haven’t been quick. In one of the six theft cases, Hardt said it took officers three days to respond.
“All we want to do is make enough, and that’s become really difficult and frustrating to see all the hard work we’ve put into a lifetime and these past few years of owning the business just get flushed away every time someone breaks through your door or drives through a wall,” Hardt said.
The bike shop’s Instagram account is encouraging people to contact elected officials in the city to do more about the crime problem in the neighborhood.
In an email to 9NEWS, a spokesperson for the Aurora Police Department said the agency is aware of four theft cases at the shop.
“Investigators are working with the owners to identify and hold those responsible for the break-ins accountable,” wrote Public Information Officer Sydney Edwards.
Edwards added that investigators plan to follow up with the bike shop owner to gather more evidence like serial numbers and video. She said a burglar might have left behind some blood at the scene, which is being tested.
“I have spoken with the detectives, and they plan to contact the owners to hopefully gather some of this missing evidence and discuss further steps in their cases and security measures,” Edwards wrote.
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