A Chinatown eatery was broken into overnight and it’s not the first place to be hit on the block.
The owner of Downbeat Diner & Lounge on Hotel Street says whoever ransacked the restaurant was sophisticated.
They climbed onto the roof, slid down a kitchen exhaust duct and took off with goods. Downbeat is hoping someone knows who did it.
Josh Hancock used a ladder to climb onto the roof of his restaurant, where someone hid out early Tuesday morning.
Downbeat Diner & Lounge recently did renovations to their kitchen exhaust duct to make it bigger. Whoever broke-in managed to slide down it and get inside.
The thief or thieves then went straight to Hancock’s office, where they kicked open the door, stealing a safe and electronics.
"Before anything happened and they broke in they shut the power off for the whole corner block," Hancock says. "It seems like it was planned out and the other burglaries in this neighborhood have been planned out as well it’s not just a random thing."
Nearby businesses estimate about seven restaurants and bars have been the target of thieves in recent months.
"We were vandalized here at indigo they tried to break into our cash register stole a bunch of liquor," says Jason Rod, who works at Indigo Restaurant & Bar.
Downbeat was forced to close for lunch Tuesday, but was prepared to re-open in time for dinner.
"It definitely hurts us more than a bigger restaurant, but we’ll bounce back," Hancock says.
Businesses are banding together hoping the criminals responsible get caught.
"I hope someone comes forward and sees something and if they do let us know we’re more than happy giving them the best dinner of their life," Rod says.
Downbeat is estimating their losses to exceed $10,000.
Anyone with information is asked to call police.
See the original article at: KHON2 Local News
