A Colorado vape shop, Purple Greens Vape and Glass, has been targeted by a series of burglaries that have caused significant disruption. Sadly, the shop has been broken into three times in the last three months, leaving owner Kelly Morse feeling overwhelmed.
Kelly Morse disclosed that these criminal activities commenced in 2022 and have continued to plague the business ever since. The company, which boasts six locations in Colorado, has fallen victim to a total of seven burglaries and one armed robbery since 2022.
The financial implications of these crimes have been substantial, with Morse estimating the damages and stolen goods to exceed $100,000. Morse lamented the frequency of the burglaries stating, “Every weekend, every couple of days, it seems like there’s another burglary happening somewhere.” The burglars have employed various methods to gain access to the store, such as crashing cars through the storefronts and using crowbars to force open doors.
The items most commonly targeted include vape juice and disposable vapes, which are easy to steal and quickly resell. However, the physical damage to the store is often extensive, forcing the business to spend tens of thousands of dollars on repairs. “I literally just finished the repairs two days before the latest burglary happened,” Morse said, visibly frustrated.
Sky-high repair costs and skyrocketing material prices compound the financial strain of these break-ins. Despite being insured, Morse and his team are facing significant delays in compensation. “My insurance dropped me, and we’re still fighting to get a claim resolved from the last incident. I’ve had to cover every single dollar of the damages and lost merchandise out of pocket,” Morse said, adding that these recurring financial burdens have left him unable to invest in additional security.
Jennifer Roderick, the HR manager of Purple Greens Vape and Glass, said the crimes are threatening the small business’s future. “It’s affecting our livelihood,” she said. We employ almost 30 people, and every time this happens, it’s affecting 30 different families.”
Roderick said the crimes have also led to safety concerns that often leave her unable to sleep at night.
“I wake up, panic, and check the cameras to make sure everything is okay,” she explained. “It’s not just affecting the business—it’s affecting my employees, our customers, and our community.”
Both Morse and Roderick described the relentless cycle of break-ins as mentally exhausting, with Roderick adding that the constant damage is leading to lower sales and tighter budgets, further straining their ability to recover.
The continuing series of break-ins and the increasing risk to employees’ safety have led Morse to offer a reward in an effort to find those responsible. “I’m willing to offer a $5,000 reward in connection to this crime,” he said. “We’ll reward Anyone who can help place these criminals in jail and get them convicted.”
With mounting costs, stress, and uncertainty surrounding the business’s future, Morse and Roderick are desperately hoping for justice and help from the community and law enforcement. “At this point, what do we do?”
The Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the thefts. They say one of the two cars involved in one of the burglaries on February 20 was stolen, and one had missing plates.
Arapahoe County vape shop suffers series of burglaries
