Eagle Rock's small business community is on high alert after a spate of burglaries left three family-owned eateries grappling with losses over the Easter weekend. Thieves struck Chateau Lemongrass, Pub 1954, and Cheebo, all situated on the 1900 block of Colorado Boulevard, despite recent hikes in police funding intended to bolster security in the area.
In an effort to stop the rash of break-ins, Los Angeles City Councilman Kevin de León previously allocated $100,000 in discretionary funds "to cover LAPD overtime costs for foot patrols, particularly along Colorado and Eagle Rock boulevards." De León had hoped the extra patrols would help to safeguard the community's entrepreneurial heart. Yet, according to an interview with Chateau Lemongrass employee Nathaniel Kraft obtained by KTLA, "Having people break in overnight when you’re not here and stealing your money doesn’t help at all."
The burglaries have unsettled local business owners, with surveillance footage from Cheebo showing a man forcefully entering the restaurant around 4 a.m Sunday before heading straight for the cash register. "In the beginning, I was thinking it was like just a random act but now I can see that he did his research whenever he did this," George Tripodakis, general manager of Cheebo, told NBC Los Angeles. Loop Espresso Club and Chateau Lemongrass were also hit, with the thieves ostensibly exploiting the cover of torrential rain to carry out their crimes unnoticed.
Residents and owners alike have been to connect the dots, noticing a troubling pattern in the timing of these incidents. Local resident Michael Nogueira observed, "This happens to be when it was pouring rain and that's when it usually occurs." He highlighted the particular vulnerability of independent businesses, adding, "The sad part is that it has to hit the mom-and-pop individuals; these are not corporations." As of now, no suspect descriptions have been released, but the LAPD's Northeast station is actively investigating the matter and urging anyone with information to come forward.
