ST. LOUIS — Another St. Louis restaurant was the victim of a burglary early Friday morning.
Pappy's Smokehouse, located at 3106 Olive Street in Midtown, was reportedly broken into shortly after midnight Friday.
According to St. Louis police at the scene of the break-in, no one was injured and there was no major damage inside the restaurant.
Todd Jordan, the general manager of Pappy's, told a 5 On Your Side photojournalist that $75 was taken from the cash register and a cash drawer from the register was found in the parking lot behind the restaurant.
Jordan said this was the first time the restaurant had been broken into and burglarized.
"It's unfortunate," said owner John Matthews. "I hate to say that it's almost expected because it seems like this is almost normal now.
Five businesses located in the same strip mall in the 5100 block of Natural Bridge were also broken into, according to police.
“They took a cash register that had an entire $4 in it, and loose change, of which they left scattered about the parking lot," said Paul Jackson, owner of The Prince Collection. “The subjects in the video appear to be extremely comfortable, and that’s very disturbing.”
These businesses are the latest to be targeted in the St. Louis area. On Wednesday, several restaurants were broken into and had money, cash registers or equipment stolen along with damage inside the building.
Those businesses included in Wednesday's string of burglaries were Sunny's Cantina, Vicia, Mack's Bar and Grill and Mack D’Licious Ice Cream, Five Guys and Hi-Pointe Drive-in.
Additionally, earlier this month, police said more than 20 burglaries at businesses in the city were connected and they were searching for the teenage suspects involved.
“The consequences behind these behaviors are likely to be minimum," said Jackson. "It almost gives that element carte blanche to do what they feel as though they can, and that’s an ill perception of reality.”
To watch 5 On Your Side broadcasts or reports 24/7, 5 On Your Side is always streaming on 5+. Download for free on Roku or Amazon Fire TV.
Check out these related stories:
- Several St. Louis restaurants broken into Wednesday morning
- Police say more than 20 burglaries at St. Louis businesses are connected, teen suspects sought
- Suspects ram stolen car into St. Charles business in attempted break-in, police say
- Burglars strike 2 St. Peters cell phone stores early Monday morning