Overnight, a group of thieves shattered their way through nine Sacramento small businesses, smashing windows, grabbing cash and vanishing before most owners were even awake. By morning, stretches of the city from Curtis Park down to Lemon Hill were dotted with boarded-up storefronts and frazzled shopkeepers tallying both repair costs and lost income.
Surveillance Footage Shows Fast, Ruthless Hits
Sacramento police have confirmed the overnight burglary spree, and surveillance video obtained by KCRA 3 shows suspects using a sledgehammer to blast through glass, then darting in and out in under 30 seconds.
At Qisa Coffee in Curtis Park, the front window was shattered and nearly $1,200 in cash was taken. Owner Abdul Aziz told the station, “It’s a lot for a small business,” and asked neighbors to rally around local shops as they dig out from the damage. Police have not released any suspect descriptions as the investigation continues.
Independent Shops Left With The Bill
Qisa Coffee, a Yemeni-style cafe that opened in Curtis Park last year, is now serving customers behind boards instead of glass while staff work to raise money for repairs, according to the shop’s website. Across the city, independent owners are suddenly juggling insurance calls, emergency glass replacement and busted registers while also weighing whether it is worth the risk to keep accepting cash.
Hit List Stretches Across Neighborhoods
The break-ins were reported at a scattering of neighborhood businesses, including Round Table Pizza on Freeport Boulevard, Village Drive Inn on 60th Street, New Station Seafood and Everest Curry on Broadway, among others. New Station Seafood lists its address on its website as New Station Seafood at 1800 Broadway, where staff boarded up the front door after the burglary.
Citywide, police say the hits ran from north of Land Park through South Sacramento and Lemon Hill, suggesting the thieves covered significant ground in a short window of time.
Detectives Probing Possible Link To Earlier Spree
Investigators are now looking at whether these overnight burglaries are connected to a string of break-ins reported over Valentine’s Day weekend. That earlier wave hit at least seven businesses across Curtis Park, Land Park and Tahoe Park, according to KCRA 3. So far, detectives have not announced any arrests…