Published on Feb. 24, 2026
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The Commerce City Police Department has arrested two alleged burglars accused of ‘targeting and terrorizing’ Latino-owned businesses across the Denver metro area. The burglaries started in November 2025 and continued through February 2026, with the suspects stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash from multiple jurisdictions. Surveillance video shows the suspects using a battering ram to break in and remove entire cash registers.
Why it matters
The burglaries have had a significant impact on the Latino business community in the Denver area, leaving owners shaken and concerned for their safety. The targeting of minority-owned businesses also raises concerns about potential bias and discrimination.
The details
Police say the suspects, Angel Villalovos-Flores and Brian Romero, both 23 years old, have been ‘terrorizing and targeting Hispanic businesses across the entire Denver metro area.’ Detectives recovered firearms during the arrests. Authorities say surveillance video was key to connecting the crimes and identifying the suspects.
- The burglaries started in November 2025 and continued through February 2026.
- The suspects were arrested last week.
The players
Angel Villalovos-Flores
A 23-year-old suspect arrested in connection with the burglaries.
Brian Romero
A 23-year-old suspect arrested in connection with the burglaries.
Joanna Small
The Public Information Officer for the Commerce City Police Department.
What they’re saying
“These two individuals and we believe several other individuals who were in the process of working to arrest right now have been terrorizing and targeting Hispanic businesses across the entire Denver metro area. So this investigation really took us months to complete.”
— Joanna Small, Public Information Officer, Commerce City Police Department (newsnationnow.com)
“We hope our business community finds some relief in knowing that the individuals responsible for these high-dollar thefts have been taken into custody after an exhaustive investigation in conjunction with a number of other jurisdictions.”
— Joanna Small, Public Information Officer, Commerce City Police Department (newsnationnow.com)
What’s next
The investigation is ongoing, and police say more arrests are possible. Authorities urge all business owners to secure cash overnight, invest in high-quality cameras, and report all break-ins.
The takeaway
The targeting of Latino-owned businesses in the Denver metro area is a concerning trend that highlights the need for increased security measures and community support for minority-owned enterprises. The arrests of the two suspects are a step in the right direction, but the broader issue of bias and discrimination against minority-owned businesses remains an ongoing challenge.
