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Greeley

Two Men Arrested For Greeley Statue Theft

Authorities charged two men with felony theft after a bronze statue was stolen from Glenmere Park in May.

Updated on Sept. 22, 2026 in Property Crime

Bold flat-color editorial illustration of an empty stone statue pedestal in a park, symbolizing the loss of public art.
Authorities in Greeley have arrested two men following the May theft of a bronze statue from Glenmere Park, which was recovered at a local recycling center. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Police arrested Danny Lovato and Devin Bueno for the May 12, 2026, theft of a bronze statue from Glenmere Park. The suspects allegedly sold the artwork to a local recycling center for $325.

Why it matters

The case highlights the severe financial impact of metal theft on municipal assets and the efficacy of modern surveillance technology in recovery. Both men now face significant legal consequences following the incident.

Danny Lovato remains in custody at the Weld County Jail, while Devin Bueno was released on a $5,000 bond. Both face felony theft and criminal mischief charges, carrying potential prison sentences of one to three years.

The players

Danny Lovato

He is one of two suspects facing felony theft and criminal mischief charges for the theft of the Glenmere Park statue.

Devin Bueno

He is a suspect in the statue theft who was released from custody after posting a $5,000 bond.

Weld County Jail

This facility is the current detention center for Danny Lovato.

Rocky Mountain Recycling

This is the business where the suspects allegedly sold the stolen statue for $325.

The details

The suspects used power tools to cut the bronze statue from its base at Glenmere Park, a crime caught through police use of surveillance footage and automated license plate reader data. The city, which originally purchased the statue for $6,100 in 1999, spent $600 to restore and reinstall the piece in July 2026.

Timeline

  1. The bronze statue was installed at Glenmere Park in 1999.

  2. The statue was stolen from the park on May 12, 2026.

  3. The city completed repairs and reinstalled the statue in July 2026.

  4. Devin Bueno was released from custody on September 4, 2026.

  5. Danny Lovato has a scheduled disposition hearing on October 2, 2026.

Legal Context

This incident reflects a broader push by Greeley authorities to utilize automated license plate readers to combat a rise in metal and property theft. It follows patterns established by the 2026 local ordinance on municipal property security designed to track high-value city assets.

The theft forced the city to spend $600 of taxpayer money to refurbish the statue after its recovery. Residents may notice increased security or monitoring around public monuments in local parks following this investigation.

The takeaway

Metal theft remains a persistent challenge that imposes unexpected maintenance costs on local taxpayers. Residents can help deter future vandalism by reporting suspicious grinding or power tool noises heard in public parks after hours.

What happens next

Danny Lovato is scheduled to appear for a disposition hearing on October 2, 2026.

Further reading

For more information on similar incidents, visit the Property Crime section.

Source note: This article includes information reported by Greeley Tribune.

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