It was a very sour day for a Lafayette sweets shop that was hit by burglars. It’s just the latest in a string of recent burglaries in Contra Costa County that all seem to share some similar signs.
Delicious barrels of sweets aren’t what attracted some intruders to Zoonie’s Candy Store over the weekend. Burglars smashed through the front door early Saturday morning, hungry for cash, not candy.
“I don’t think they were so interested in the candy. We did see a couple of little pieces on the ground so maybe just a snack or something,” said David Harrison of Zoonie’s Candy Shop.
The bad guys pried out the store’s entire safe, bolted to the floor in the back room, and then helped themselves to the cash in the tip jar and a few candies on the way out.
“I’m trying to take it in stride. Obviously, it’s frustrating. It’s sad. It’s really unfortunate. I appreciate that everyone, not just myself, is outraged. Our community’s been hit with more and more crime lately,” said Harrison.
It’s not the only Lafayette business targeted by thieves recently. Just a week and a half ago, about a block down the street, a crew of thieves struck Panache Cafe. Surveillance video captured at least three people breaking in and, just like at Zoonie’s, stealing the shop’s safe.
The restaurant next door says they’ve been victimized so many times they keep a supply of plywood on hand for boarding up broken windows.
“They won’t steal that much money. We don’t keep that much money in the store, but it costs more to fix the door and window and everything,” said Peter Wang, owner of Oyama Sushi.
Police say they are trying to determine if any of the break-ins are connected. Business owners and customers are frustrated that so much crime is taking place in a town that’s usually considered safe.
“If we want stores like this to be here, then we need to protect them and make sure it doesn’t happen. It’s unfortunate,” said customer Kristine Erving.
Source: NBC Bay Area
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