Overnight break ins in Arcadia and Eagle Rock have left small business owners rattled, counting losses and rethinking how they do business. At Café 86 in Arcadia, owners Elaine and Andrew Linga say a crew of masked thieves shattered their front door and yanked out the cash register in about 35 seconds, leaving them with a busted storefront and one less day of revenue to work with. The crime streak is already changing how some shops handle money, with owners cutting back on cash and, in the process, shutting out customers who depend on it.
Surveillance Shows 35 Second Hit On Café 86
Security video reviewed by reporters shows at least three suspects smashing into Café 86 early Wednesday, then beelining for the counter. One suspect rips the register drawer right off before the group bolts. The Lingas estimate the broken glass alone will run about $1,000 to replace, and they told reporters the same crew headed to a nearby Fatburger and stole that register too, according to ABC7 Los Angeles.
Smash And Grab Trend Spreads Across L.A. County
The rapid, coordinated hit at Café 86 looks a lot like other recent smash and grab jobs around Los Angeles County, where crews move in fast and focus on cash registers or ATMs. Local reports and police briefings describe similar tactics, sometimes with cars and stolen tools used to ram front doors overnight, underscoring how quickly small shops can be hit and how long recovery can take, according to smash crew plows into luxury shop.
Shops Go Cashless, Some Customers Left Out
In Arcadia, some merchants have decided the risk is too high and are now limiting or dropping cash payments altogether. Owners say the move feels necessary for safety but has already meant turning away people who only carry bills. "I don't feel safe anymore," Elaine Linga told reporters, adding that the shift away from cash "could disproportionately affect" students and seniors, per ABC7 Los Angeles.
Legal Context
Under California law, going into a commercial building with the intent to steal can be charged as burglary, while shoplifting applies to certain lower dollar thefts and carries different penalties. The distinction between burglary and shoplifting, and whether a case is filed as a misdemeanor or a felony, is spelled out in state law; the relevant section is available in the California Penal Code.
What Police Want To See From Businesses
Arcadia police say they are coordinating with Los Angeles investigators to see if the recent break ins are connected and are asking any businesses with video to come forward. Businesses and witnesses can call Arcadia Police non emergency dispatch at (626) 574-5151 or send a tip through the department's online portal, according to the Arcadia Police Department.
For now, the Lingas and neighboring shop owners say they are tightening security, reviewing footage frame by frame and hoping that tips from customers and nearby cameras will eventually point investigators to whoever pulled off the break ins.
