A mile-long stretch of Broadway in downtown Denver has turned into an expensive headache for drivers, businesses, and a historic church, after dozens of parked cars and storefront windows were smashed in a string of attacks that have neighbors on edge and the city investigating.
The damage runs through the busy corridor near the Brown Palace and Trinity United Methodist, and in some cases appears to have reached historic glass that has survived more than a century of Denver history, only to be taken out by a rock.
Police Log Dozens Of Broken Windows Along Broadway
The Denver Police Department reports 22 broken vehicle windshields and 12 broken building windows from December 1 through January 7, with incidents clustered between 17th Street and Blake Street. Trinity United Methodist, the 19th-century landmark at Broadway and East 18th Avenue, reported hits to its protective glazing that left 140‑year‑old stained glass damaged and an estimated repair bill of more than $8,000.
Police told investigators the pattern appears to have started a couple of months earlier and that some victims may not yet have reported the damage, according to Westword.
Victims Say Hits Felt Random, Bills Very Real
Jerome Síbulo, director of music and arts ministry at Trinity, told Westword he walked out to find his rear windshield shattered on December 17 and a rock sitting on the dashboard.
"It felt like someone was disturbed. And it seems like it’s spreading," he said.
Emily Shupak says her car was hit on January 3 near the Brown Palace, and that she paid about $510 out of pocket to replace the glass. She says her partner’s vehicle was damaged on December 26. Síbulo says his own repair tab came to roughly $486.
Neighbors Connect The Dots, Call For Tips
People who live and work along Broadway have been comparing notes on local forums, including a Reddit thread collecting reports of rocks hurled into parked cars and witnesses who said they saw groups of people on e‑scooters in the area.
The online sleuthing has turned into a crowdsourced request for evidence, with posters urging anyone who has video or photos of the vandalism to share them with police so investigators can spot patterns and suspects.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Denver Police Department or submit an anonymous tip to Metro Denver Crime Stoppers. The Reddit thread compiling reports is available on Reddit.
Historic Glass, Modern Headaches For Downtown
Beyond the immediate cost to vehicle owners and businesses, the attacks have chipped away at a historic downtown streetscape and raised fresh worries for people who work late or park overnight in the area.
Trinity United Methodist’s stained glass and architectural significance are documented in historical resources, including SAH Archipedia, and police say they are investigating the vandalism.
