Masked burglars hit several small businesses in Rocklin and Auburn on Wednesday before sunrise, targeting a pub, a coffee shop, a deli, and a tattoo parlor across two shopping centers and a downtown area. By the end of the morning, one suspect was in custody while two others remained at large.
Businesses hit and what was taken
At Painkillers Pub in Rocklin, two masked people allegedly pried their way in with crowbars. Next door, Pause Coffee House was left without a safe, a cash drawer and roughly $1,700 in cash. Up the road in Auburn, investigators say Max's Deli and Third Eye Tattoo were also targeted, with the deli owner warning that three big catering jobs could now be in jeopardy. The Placer County Sheriff's Office believes three masked suspects were involved in the early morning break-ins, according to CBS Sacramento.
County's retail-theft push in the background
The smash-and-grabs come as Placer County has spent the past year rolling out a retail-theft initiative and tightening prosecution strategies to disrupt organized theft rings moving through the region. Officials say the program, supported by tools from Prop 36, zeroes in on repeat offenders from outside the county and on fences who resell stolen merchandise, per KCRA.
One suspect arrested, two still at large
Within hours of the break-ins, Sacramento County deputies stopped a white SUV that investigators had linked to the crime spree and arrested 25-year-old Elijah Felix. He is now facing multiple burglary and stealing charges. Authorities also told reporters that Felix has a warrant tied to similar allegations out of Yuba County, and that two additional suspects remain at large while detectives chase down leads, according to CBS Sacramento.
How to share tips or footage
Law enforcement is asking anyone with information or surveillance video to contact the Placer County Sheriff's Office or their local police department. The county website lists the sheriff's non-emergency line as 530-889-7800 and offers an online reporting option for non-emergencies. Tips could help deputies track down the remaining suspects and recover stolen goods, and officials are urging residents and business owners to upload video or other evidence through Placer County.
