ST. LOUIS — Several businesses were targeted Friday morning in a string of smash-and-grabs in south St. Louis.
The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department said businesses that were struck included Poke One at 3101 S. Grand Blvd., Gotham and Eggs at 3139 S. Grand Blvd. and Mokabe's Coffeehouse at 3606 Arsenal St.
Surveillance cameras at Gotham and Eggs caught burglars breaking into the restaurant just after 2 a.m. The thieves wore black hoodies and masks as they rifled through the business and attempted to steal a safe that was bolted to the floor.
“They basically broke through our back deck window. We’re not sure what they used to get inside our business. I’m frustrated. We had to open late due to all this and we had to spend a lot of time cleaning up the mess,” said Shani Knight.
Knight and her husband opened Gotham and Eggs less than a year ago. Their business was also burglarized last September.
“Police arrested a man in that case. They also told me that they caught one of the guys in this morning’s break-in, and they said he had a gun on him," Knight said. "We have to now spend $800-$900 if we want to replace the glass window. It’s just not worth it for these kids to keep breaking into these businesses."
Steven Qiu's family owns Poke One. He believes the same burglars smashed the front glass door to their business, ripped apart a cable to a cash register and stole money.
“I bet the same guys caught on our surveillance video and photos are the same ones who committed all three of the break-ins at the businesses. I’m just so glad that nobody was hurt," Qiu said.
Poke One opened for business less than three months ago.
“It’s frustrating, but it happens. My dad he now wants to invest in like a steel blind gate to protect our front glass doors,” Qiu added.
As of Friday, police had no further details to share regarding the burglaries.