Commerce City police are asking for the public's help to identify three people caught on camera allegedly walking off with about $7,000 in cosmetics from a local business. In a video shared by the department, one of the suspects appears to be holding a baby on their hip during the theft, adding a jarring detail to an already bold grab. The clip was posted online with a prominent “PLEASE SHARE” plea as detectives work to track the group down.
Police post and how to tip
In a Facebook Reel posted Wednesday by the Commerce City Police Department, detectives say three people walked out of a local store with roughly $7,000 in beauty products and urge anyone who recognizes them to speak up. The post lists Investigator Barnes as the contact for tips, along with an email address, [email protected], and asks the public to help identify the suspects so they can be held accountable. The Reel does not indicate whether any arrests have been made.
Local enforcement and past arrests
Commerce City has recently highlighted other commercial theft investigations. In February, the city announced that detectives arrested suspects believed to be responsible for a series of business burglaries, according to a Commerce City press release. Those efforts showed detectives working retail-theft and burglary cases across the metro area and recovering stolen property. City officials have been urging witnesses to save video, preserve potential evidence, and share what they have with investigators.
Why beauty products are a target
Beauty products routinely pop up on law enforcement radar in retail theft cases. Federal lawmakers and investigators say items like cosmetics are popular with organized theft rings because they are compact, carry a high price tag, and are relatively easy to resell.
A recent House report on organized retail crime specifically calls out beauty and health products among the most frequently stolen goods, and law enforcement coverage has documented sizable makeup hauls turning up in arrests around the country. In one recent example, an Irvine case involved officers finding roughly $9,000 in stolen cosmetics, as per Hoodline.
How to pass along tips
Anyone who recognizes the people in the video is asked to email Investigator Barnes at [email protected] or contact Commerce City non-emergency dispatch at 303-288-1535, and to call 911 for emergencies, according to the Commerce City Police Department information page. Police say tips can include screenshots or store surveillance footage and note that credible leads will be followed up by investigators. The department has publicly thanked community members for sharing information that could help identify the suspects.
