By Mike Hazlip—
A Japanese noodle restaurant on Sunrise Boulevard over the weekend became the target of vandalism once again, with an individual breaking every window from the exterior of the building.
From June: Citrus Heights restaurant latest target of vandalism in area
Fukumi Ramen, located at 5410 Sunrise Blvd. near Madison Avenue, had its windows shattered about 3 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 18, according to shift leader Calvin Alford. Security cameras captured a masked male breaking all the windows around the building that the restaurant shares with Max Muscle Nutrition. The windows on the Max Muscle side of the building remained untouched.
Alford said the individual’s mask covered most of his face, but described the man as having “pale complexion with dark brown eyebrows.”
Citrus Heights Police Lt. Wesley Herman told The Sentinel in an email Monday that police are aware of the incident and are actively investigating it. He did not provide further details.
The restaurant installed a security camera system after a previous incident in June where someone broke the bottom portion of several windows, Alford said. The prior incident caused around $28,000 in damage.
“We just got it fixed,” he said. “We just got the windows fixed, and now we have to get all of them done again.”
There are no clear suspects, and Alford said he is not aware of any disgruntled employees or customers.
“I don’t know why we got hit again,” he said, acknowledging that the incident could be racially motivated. “Honestly, probably, at this point since it’s happened so often.”
The restaurant was closed Monday because of a problem with the water line to the building, but re-opened later that afternoon for take-out orders, according to Alford. He plans to continue offering take-out orders until the damage is repaired.
Fukumi Ramen has two other restaurants in Roseville and Folsom. While Alford said the tip jar was stolen recently at the Roseville restaurant, the Citrus Heights location is the only restaurant that has been vandalized.
Related: Citrus Heights police identify ‘person of interest’ in vandalism incidents
The Sentinel previously reported a similar act targeting Mountain Mike’s pizza at 7777 Sunrise Blvd. on May 8. Dalvir Singh Brar, owner of the restaurant, said it appeared to be a targeted act and nothing was reported stolen.
Multiple windows were previously broken at Asian and Cajun 2, located just outside the city limit at Fair Oaks Boulevard and Greenback Lane. Restaurant owner Raymond Saechao told The Sentinel surveillance camera video showed two individuals used a hammer to break several windows at about 4 a.m. on June 11. He said both individuals had their faces covered and could not be identified.
