Tragedy struck for a well-known Berkeley camera store, Looking Glass Photo, when thieves executed a smash-and-grab on Sunday morning, employing a vehicle to breach the store's front. The incident resulted in both significant structural damage and the loss of at least $50,000 in merchandise. According to a social media post from Looking Glass Photographic Arts, despite the damage, Looking Glass' commitment to serving the community remains resolute with the storefront boarded up and a side entrance available for customers.
The burglary not only affected the inventory but also left extensive damage to the building's infrastructure. The owner, as per Henry K. Lee, described the scene as comparable to the aftermath of a bomb: "The whole thing is devastating and completely traumatic."
In response to this turn of events, Looking Glass Photo has taken to GoFundMe to ask for community assistance. With insurance unable to cover the entirety of the damages, they detailed the extensive list of needed repairs which includes not only structural renewal but also necessary security enhancements and operational expenses to maintain their workforce.
