Burglars smashed through the front door of Gino’s East of Chicago on the 12900 block of Riverside Drive in Sherman Oaks early Wednesday, leaving the popular pizzeria torn apart and its owner staring at thousands of dollars in losses. The thieves pried open a safe that was bolted to the floor, grabbed cash and a prized Caleb Williams Chicago Bears jersey, and disappeared, according to the owner. Neighbors are rattled, and the Los Angeles Police Department has opened an investigation.
Owner Describes The Hit
Tod Himmel, the restaurant's owner, told KTLA that the suspects came back around 3 a.m., used a crowbar to smash the glass front door, then tore through the inside of the shop. He said the burglars took roughly $1,200 in cash and that repair costs, including about $2,000 to replace the shattered door and fix damage to the floor-bolted safe, would push the total hit into the thousands. Himmel also told the station the thieves walked off with a valuable Caleb Williams jersey that had become a bit of a centerpiece for the spot.
Police Seek Footage And Tips
The Los Angeles Police Department's Van Nuys division is investigating and has asked anyone with surveillance video or information to come forward. The Van Nuys Community Police Station lists its front-desk number as 818-374-9500 for non-emergency tips, and detectives are reviewing nearby camera feeds as part of the probe. Authorities said there were no reported injuries.
Neighbors Worry Suspects Scoped The Block
Neighbors told KTLA they were shaken after learning about the overnight break-ins, and one resident, Michael Simmons, suggested the suspects may have canvassed Riverside Drive before the smash-and-grab. Storeowners along the block said they plan to comb through their own security footage and upgrade locks and lighting after the hit. The jersey theft, singled out by the owner, drew extra attention because of its value and how prominently it was displayed.
Part Of A Wider Valley Trend
The Sherman Oaks break-in fits into a recent string of burglaries and smash-and-grab reports across the San Fernando Valley this month, a pattern local outlets have been tracking. Coverage of a brazen 24-hour burglary blitz in nearby neighborhoods has business owners on higher alert. Gino's East, a Riverside Drive staple, now faces the slow, unglamorous work of cleanup, repairs and getting customers back through the door.
How Businesses Can Help Deter Copycat Thieves
Police recommend that merchants secure safes to the floor, keep high-resolution security cameras running overnight, improve exterior lighting and join neighborhood business-watch programs to make quick smash-and-grab tactics less appealing. The Van Nuys station's community pages outline prevention resources and how to coordinate evidence with investigators, according to the LAPD website. Anyone with video or information about the Sherman Oaks burglary is asked to call 818-374-9500.
