Colorado alerts marijuana shops about a troubling trend

• For many, it's the latest blow in a worsening market.

Driving the news: In a bulletin issued Friday, the state's Marijuana Enforcement Division reports that retail marijuana shops are the primary target, but the break-ins also extend to cultivation and manufacturing facilities.

By the numbers: Colorado counted 223 burglaries at marijuana facilities from 2004 to present, calling the trend "persistent."

• The structural damage to buildings ranges from $4,500 to $10,000, state officials reported. Cash and other losses can exceed $20,000.

Zoom in: The crimes often follow a pattern and include entering from adjacent units or through shared walls, coming down through the roof, or breaking the front door.

• The burglars, in some cases, are using stolen cars to ram the building to gain entry and take cash from ATMs, as well as marijuana products and paraphernalia.

Between the lines: It's unclear whether the trend is part of a broader crime pattern or a marijuana-specific issue.

What's next: State officials are asking marijuana businesses to strengthen their security beyond the minimum requirements by adding crash barriers, expanding surveillance and reinforcing doors.