A Phoenix streetwear store has been left in shambles after a hooded individual drove a stolen car through the establishment's glass doors and security gate, committing a smash-and-grab theft of merchandise. Restock Ave, which is located near 99th Avenue and Camelback Road, was preparing for the upcoming back-to-school shopping season when this incident occurred. ABC15 Arizona captured the dramatic scene on surveillance footage.
Working alongside his employees, Restock Ave's owner Chris Sotelo was quoted by ABC15, expressing his disbelief at the sight of the destruction, "When I saw this, I couldn't believe it... I didn't know how to react," and further lamenting the impact of the theft on his business that he built over a decade, stating, "for people to come in and destroy it kind of sucks, you know?" After ramming into the store, surveillance video shows the thief exiting the car and pilfering clothing items with frayed nerves, according to multiple reports.
Further details emerged from footage showing the masked assailant making an initial escape on foot with the looted goods before returning for additional plunder. The New York Post reported the burglar targeted the "expensive side" of the store in a chaotic spree, happening at around 3:15 a.m. As seen in the video, the culprit crashed into a shoe display, then looted designer merchandise before fleeing the mangled premises. The New York Post provided the wild visual account of the crime.
The Phoenix Police have confirmed that the vehicle used in the heist was stolen. Although the full extent of the loss and damage to Restock Ave has yet to be fully determined, The New York Post conveyed Sotelo's suspicions that the individual responsible had prior knowledge of the store's offerings, stating, "I'm sure they had been in here before. They kind of had an idea of what we had." Despite this ordeal, cleanup efforts are currently underway, and an investigation into the incident remains ongoing.
