Arvada Shop Owner Captures 13-Year-Old Suspect During Break-In
After over two decades of running his family-owned business, Cellular Exchange in Arvada, Angelo Salazar is grappling with an alarming surge in break-ins. His shop, which buys, sells, and repairs phones, has experienced over a dozen burglaries since 2022—marking a dramatic increase from the occasional incidents in earlier years.
“For 18 years, we only had two or three break-ins. Now it’s happening three, four, even six times a year,” Salazar said. Despite robust security measures, including exterior cameras, alarms, interior gates, and barred windows, criminals continue to target his shop, which contains no inventory overnight.
The latest incident occurred early Tuesday morning when Salazar’s cameras recorded two individuals arriving in a stolen vehicle. One suspect, significantly smaller than the other, broke through the door’s window and squeezed through the metal gate. Watching the scene unfold on his home security feed, Salazar was shocked to see what appeared to be a young child breaking in. “I had to look twice—I thought, ‘That’s a little kid, like my grandson’s age.’”
Salazar immediately alerted the police, who arrived quickly. While one suspect fled the scene, officers apprehended the juvenile inside. Authorities later confirmed the vehicle used in the crime was stolen.
Salazar has observed a concerning trend in these break-ins: perpetrators are increasingly organized, using stolen cars and often arriving armed. “It’s no longer random homeless individuals—it’s people with a plan,” he said.
Despite the challenges, Salazar is determined to continue protecting his business and hopes the juvenile apprehended will receive the help they need to avoid future crimes.
