This past weekend, robbers broke into yet another small company in the San Fernando Valley, adding to the long list of crimes that have been troubling the region.
The Flor de Lima Farms in San Fernando are captured on camera when a group of people in hoodies break in. According to the owners, this is only one incident in a string of crimes that has targeted at least ten different businesses in recent weeks.
According to the owners, the guys broke into the smoothie bar using what appear to be a crowbar and a power saw before making off with a safe that contained up to $7,000.
“It’s very unfortunate,” expressed the proprietor, who wished to stay unidentified. “This is a small family business that is just trying to keep their doors open with a safe, comfortable environment and unfortunately they’re making it almost impossible to happen.”
She said that she thinks this same group attempted to break in at least twice more this week but was unsuccessful before leaving for the night.
Additionally, it is thought that they are a member of the same group who attacked Teriyaki Madness, a local restaurant, in early August and left an apology note.
The restaurant’s owner, Mario Essary, stated, “The note said needed money for drugs, that they’re sorry and that they won’t be coming back. I genuinely feel that they are apologetic.”
The proprietor of the smoothie shop said they shouldn’t be apologizing enough if they belong to the same group that broke into the Protein Stop and the San Fernando Coffee Company next door.
“Some of these vandalisms, the person will just break a window and then walk away,” San Fernando Police Department Chief Fabian Valdez stated.
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According to him, it might be done so the suspects can watch to see if the alarm goes off or if law enforcement arrives, in which case they’ll know it’s probably OK to break in.
More patrolling police, according to the owners, would deter some of the thieves from breaking in, or at least make them think twice about it. Police have responded by increasing the number of patrols in the region and stating that some of them are covert.
