For the fourth time in a year, GAI Chicken and Rice, a staple of the Castro District's culinary scene, has been rocked by a burglary, its owner grappling with the emotional and financial toll of repeated crime. According to a CBS News Bay Area report, the latest incident occurred early Wednesday morning, with security footage capturing the act. The restaurant owner, Kevin Lieu, says, "You just know something's wrong when you get a phone call at 3:30 in the morning. So, you know your heart's racing, something's wrong at the restaurant". The burglary left behind a trail of shattered glass, but, fortunately, no cash was taken, as precautions have been taken following the series of burglaries.
Despite a nearly 14% drop in burglaries citywide, as stated on the San Francisco Police Department's crime dashboard, the Castro neighborhood has seen a 15% increase in break-ins. Speaking to CBS News Bay Area, a loyal patron, Jeanne, voiced her distress over the unsettling trend, especially when it affects beloved local businesses like GAI Chicken and Rice. In response to the relentless break-ins, Lieu is contemplating the installation of scissor gates to reinforce security.
Expressing his despair on Instagram, Lieu mirrored the darkness crime casts upon the community, describing his emotions when finding out on his 40th birthday that his restaurant had been victimized again. "This is now the 4TH time this year," Lieu's Instagram post stated. His call to action was underscored by a plea for support, citing a resolve inspired by Michelle Obama to "DO SOMETHING" in the face of persistent wrongdoing.
While dealing with such disturbances, Lieu and his family remain determined to keep their restaurant open, preserving a piece of the San Francisco they cherish despite the challenges, a sentiment underscored by Lieu's own words, "We're still going to fight to make sure that we can bring that SF that we've known to love back to the city". No suspect has been identified in the latest burglary. San Francisco Police are urging anyone with information to contact them at 415-575-4444 or text a tip to TIP411, as reported by CBS News Bay Area.
