Sentinel staff report–
Police said at least seven local businesses had their front windows smashed and items stolen during a rash of early morning commercial burglaries last Sunday.
Lt. Michael Wells said Thursday there were four commercial burglaries in the northern portion of Auburn Boulevard, along with three burglaries of businesses on the 6900 block of Sunrise Boulevard.
Wells said police are working with law enforcement agencies in Roseville and Sacramento County who reportedly experienced similar burglaries. “We are trying to determine if the burglaries are all related and we are sharing information and leads to develop suspect descriptions,” he said.
All burglaries had the same method of entry: broken front windows. Items stolen were also generally anything that could be quickly taken from countertop areas, like cash registers.
Judith Koehle, who owns Mi Lindo Jalisco, a popular Mexican restaurant on Auburn Boulevard, told The Sentinel her business was among those burglarized. She said the break-in occurred around 3 a.m. on March 8 and was caught on video surveillance in her restaurant.
She said a single suspect with a covered face could be seen in the video making off with an empty cash register and other items.
In the past five years, Koehle said she’s had three break-ins and has equipped her restaurant with security cameras and an alarm system, which helped scare off thieves during the first two break-ins. She said Sunday’s break-in was the most costly, estimating about $3,000 in damage and loss.
She said in the future, she’ll leave the register’s cash drawer open and cleaned out each night, so at least she won’t have to replace the register if another break-in occurs.
As of Thursday, Wells said no specific suspects have been identified, but detectives are following up on several leads. Anyone who may have seen suspicious activity in the area on March 8 is asked to contact police at (916) 727-5500.
