Three Dallas restaurants were robbed between Dec. 13 and Dec. 18, with a suspect caught on CCTV. Owners describe the break-ins, police investigate each case separately.
Incident Timeline
The first break-in took place on the morning of Dec. 13 at Old Fashioned Grilled Burgers on Plano Road. Dallas police responded to a business alarm around 11:45 a.m. Surveillance footage shows a man in a light-colored hoodie and backpack crawling through the glass door and yanking the cash register from the counter.
Old Fashioned Grilled Burgers
Alan Morales, whose family owns the restaurant, said his business was one of three burglarized within five miles of each other. “On camera, we caught him picking up asphalt from the street out there. And with that same asphalt, he came in, and he busted our door,” Morales said. “We saw him running out with the register, so it was too late to get here in time to try to catch him.”
Primo Brother’s Pizza
Three miles away at Primo Brother’s Pizza a similar incident unfolded. A man in a light hoodie smashed the front door, crawled inside, and rummaged behind the counter. He appeared to leave with items in his hands, according to the restaurant’s owner.
Mario Bros Tacos
Around 1 a.m. on Dec. 18, a man in a hoodie and carrying a backpack broke into Mario Bros Tacos on Abrams Road. Owner Mario Moya said he received an alert that someone was inside. “He stole and opened the till in each register, which had about $100 or so in each register,” Moya said. “And then he stole employee tips that they were collecting to disperse among themselves.”
Owner Reactions
Moya also said he has spoken with other nearby business owners who believe they were targeted by the same person. He believes his restaurant has been hit twice. “As a business owner, when you leave your business at the end of the night, you expect to come back to the same business that you leave,” Moya said.
Police Response
Dallas police have not said whether the burglaries are connected, only that each case remains under investigation. The department has released the surveillance footage to the public in an effort to identify the suspect.
Surveillance Evidence
The footage captured the suspect’s light-colored hoodie, backpack, and the method of entry and theft at each location. At Old Fashioned Grilled Burgers the suspect used asphalt to break the door, a detail that has drawn attention from the restaurant’s family.
Business Community Concerns
Business owners in the area are voicing their concerns about safety and the possibility of a repeat offender. Several have called for increased security measures and police presence in the neighborhood.
Key Takeaways
- Three restaurants were robbed between Dec. 13 and 18.
- A suspect in a light hoodie and backpack was captured on CCTV.
- Dallas police are investigating each case separately.
The series of break-ins has sparked alarm among local business owners, who are hoping for a swift resolution from law enforcement.
