Five days. That is how long the new Wanna Smash burger spot in Canton got to enjoy its grand opening glow before a brazen smash-and-grab wiped out an estimated $8,000 to $9,000 in cash, electronics, and liquor. By the time morning cleanup crews arrived, a glass side door was shattered, and much of the place’s gear was gone, leaving the owners doing damage control instead of breakfast prep. Neighbors told staff they had seen other recent burglaries on the block, adding a layer of unease to what was supposed to be a celebratory first week.
Surveillance Video Captures Quick Hit
Surveillance footage released by the restaurant shows two hooded, ski-masked people hurling a rock through a side door, then moving fast through the dining room. In the clip, they carry off a cash register, a safe, a printer, iPads, and multiple bottles of alcohol before slipping back into the night, according to FOX45.
New Canton Outpost Had Just Fired Up The Griddle
The Canton franchise of Wanna Smash had only just opened late last month in the former Shipyard Pub space at 3500 O'Donnell St., bringing the Los Angeles-based wagyu smash-burger concept to the neighborhood. The local spot, co-owned by Melvin Daniels, features a full bar alongside its burger menu, according to WBAL.
Operations Manager: A Costly Gut Punch
"We lost out on upwards of $8,000 or $9,000. A good amount," operations manager Dajana Vujatovic told FOX45. She said neighbors had warned staff about other recent burglaries on the block, and the team is already changing how it operates. Vujatovic noted that they have updated the alarm system and will no longer keep cash in the registers overnight.
Crime Spike Puts Southeast Baltimore On Edge
The break-in at Wanna Smash is landing amid a wider crime spike in Southeast Baltimore. In the last month, robberies in the area rose 82 percent, burglaries climbed 15 percent, and larcenies jumped 95 percent compared with the same period last year, according to FOX45. CBS Baltimore reported that Wanna Smash posted the surveillance video to its Instagram account on April 2 and that city police data show 335 commercial robberies in 2025, with 79 so far this year. As of the latest reporting, police said no arrests had been made.
