A man with dark hair, a full beard, and a winter jacket is accused of turning a Wheat Ridge Safeway ATM into his personal cash machine over two days in early December, and police say they need help putting a name to the face.
Wheat Ridge police said Friday that the man used multiple cards to make 16 separate withdrawals from the in-store ATM, then walked away before anyone realized what was happening. Investigators have now released surveillance photos and are asking for tips from the public.
What police released
Wheat Ridge Police Department on Facebook posted a crime alert detailing what they say happened inside the Safeway on Dec. 2 and 3, 2025. According to the post, the suspect used multiple cash cards, including EBT and OAP cards, to make 16 withdrawals from the store's ATM.
Police shared still images showing a man described as roughly 30 to 40 years old with dark hair and a full beard. In the photos, he is wearing a black puffy jacket with a fur-trimmed hood and a gray knit hat. Investigators logged the incidents under case numbers 25-9492 and 25-9469 and asked anyone who recognizes the man to contact authorities.
How to report a tip
Tipsters can stay anonymous and may be eligible for a reward of up to $2,000 by contacting Metro Denver Crime Stoppers. The organization notes that its hotline, (720) 913-7867, is answered 24 hours a day, and tips must go through the website or tip line to qualify for a reward.
Police emphasized that anyone who has video footage or other possible evidence should preserve it and call investigators rather than approaching anyone they recognize from the images. The goal, they said, is to help build a strong case without putting tipsters in harm's way.
Identity theft and ATM fraud in the region
Fraud investigators say schemes that turn stolen card data into quick ATM withdrawals remain a persistent problem across the region. Local reporting has documented federal and local crackdowns on skimming and card-fraud networks that move stolen data from place to place, sometimes ending in indictments and sizable recoveries.
Denver7 detailed one such investigation in which skimming devices and stolen funds were traced through multiple cities, ultimately leading to federal charges.
Wheat Ridge police are asking anyone who recognizes the man in the Safeway ATM case or who noticed suspicious activity at the store on Dec. 2 or 3 to contact investigators or Metro Denver Crime Stoppers and reference case numbers 25-9492 and 25-9469. The department's Facebook post includes the surveillance stills and additional contact information for detectives. Officials said tips submitted through the proper channels are key to moving the investigation forward without jeopardizing ongoing work.
