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Nearly $50,000 in comic books were ripped off from Colorado’s famed Mile High Comics shop — in what prosecutors determined was an inside job.
Francisco Ysidro Ruiz, 39, was charged Tuesday after he allegedly stole 15 valuable comic books from the Denver store, where he previously was employed, news station KMGH reported.
Ruiz allegedly was caught on camera breaking into the store around 5 a.m. May 26 and smashed a glass display case.
The masked thief appeared to be aware of the store’s security system, authorities said.
Officials said he took off with the rarest and most expensive comics in the store, including Avengers #1, Iron Man #1, Justice League of America #1, Spider-Man #50, and a 1943 letter from the Superman Fan Club of America.
“Whoever did it knew what they were going for,” manager William Moulton told the news station a day after the theft.
The store has not recovered the missing comics that Ruiz allegedly stole, KCNC reported.
Ruiz was busted when he was recognized by an employee on the surveillance footage as a former co-worker, officials said.
He faces charges of second-degree burglary and one count of theft. He is set to appear in court June 28.
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