A San Francisco taqueria has cooked up an unusual incentive after a break-in on Monday morning, which resulted in the theft of an ATM and two safes. Taqueria Zorro, located in North Beach, is offering a free month's worth of lunch to anyone who can provide tips that lead to the arrest of the perpetrators. The owner, Tarik Kassis, expressed his determination, as per SF Chronicle, stating, "We’re not going to let these criminals win. We ask the public for help in bringing these criminals to justice — silence allows this kind of violence to continue, and we cannot let that happen."
The incident at Taqueria Zorro took place around 5 a.m. Surveillance footage captured when the criminals used bolt cutters to gain entry and haul out an ATM and two safes. The speedy burglary, which lasted just 12 minutes, has left Kassis expecting repairs to take several weeks with an estimated cost of about $25,000. Even though the break-in was a significant setback, Kassis told KTVU, "It's never too late for some redemption," indicating that the offer even extends to the burglars themselves, should they choose to turn themselves in.
The footage showed the group using crowbars and bolt cutters to extract the ATM, break into an office, and steal safes. They loaded their plunder into a stolen white Honda Odyssey van, Kassis described to both news outlets. The San Francisco police were on the scene within minutes. However, the thieves had already made their getaway.
No arrests have been made since Monday afternoon, but the community's response has been notable. Kassis highlighted the importance of public support to the SF Chronicle. "If you know anything, say something — your silence gives them power." Meanwhile, officers stopped by the taqueria a day after the break-in for lunch and to sympathize with the owner's plight. Kassis also seized the opportunity to call for more action from city leadership, especially regarding property crimes, which he believes could escalate to violence "in a heartbeat, if someone's in their way," he said in an interview with KTVU.
