December 06 2025, 08:15 
Denver police have made an arrest in the burglary of an LGBTQ+ youth center earlier this week, which saw thousands of dollars in cash, electronic equipment, and an SUV stolen from its campus.
The suspect, 58-year-old Stephen Guerra, was found by cops driving a stolen Toyota RAV4 with two empty cash boxes from a safe taken from the YouthSeen offices. Executive Director Dr. Tara Jae said the burglar made off with nearly $10,000 in cash.
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“It was our entire emergency fund,” she told Fox 31 News.
On Tuesday, YouthSeen announced it was closing its offices indefinitely.
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“This is really just like the straw that breaks the camel’s back,” Jae said, while adding that the group will continue to operate online while they seek funding to cover their loss.
LGBTQ+ organizations in Denver were already on edge after a series of vandal attacks at an advocacy group headquarters and several businesses.
The burglary at YouthSeen was a gut punch for the group serving primarily BIPoC LGBTQ+ youth, with support services like after-school programs, a community hangout, and peer-group counseling.
“He knew exactly what he was going after,” Jae said. “There were only a few people that knew that I had a safe in the office.”
Police say the burglar jimmied a side door lock to make his way into the building. Video shows the grizzled suspect in Jae’s office heading directly for the safe’s location, even looking right at the surveillance camera that was recording him.
A background check on Guerra shows he has a lengthy criminal history of drug offenses, felony menacing, and sexual assault convictions. His arrest affidavit states the suspect took a second cash box, an iPad, and the keys and registration to a vehicle in addition to the safe.
Cops say he’s being held for investigation of second-degree burglary.
Now YouthSeen’s director says they’re in recovery mode.
“Not only are we an LGBTQ organization, but we also focus on LGBTQ youth of color, and we don’t have a lot of resources within our state and within the nation,” she told CBS News Colorado. “So if people can give, that is awesome. Anything helps at this point.”
Donations for the group can be made on their website.
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