A Midtown Sacramento vendor market has been broken into twice in less than two weeks, and one longtime seller says thieves wiped out nearly three years of her handmade jewelry collection in a single night before coming back for more. Bliss Marketplace, a vendor collective in Midtown, was first hit on September 29 and again on October 11, with thieves reportedly entering through the back door both times.
Jessica Pearce, who owns a booth called The Hope Chest inside the marketplace, told KCRA that her display was almost cleared out entirely during the first break-in, with thieves reportedly making off with more than $6,000 worth of jewelry she made and sourced herself. Another vendor reportedly lost $507 worth of crystal rocks in that same incident. Cash and checks were also reportedly taken from the break room during the first break-in. Pearce said she lost about three years' worth of her collection in a single night.
After the first burglary, Bliss Marketplace added floodlights to the back alley and fortified the back door, and Pearce left a note in her now-empty display case. She believes the thieves saw that note when they returned less than two weeks later, on October 11, reportedly entering through the same back door and this time damaging it beyond repair, according to the station's report.
A Second Hit, More Losses
During the second break-in, thieves reportedly stole more of Pearce's jewelry, additional crystal rocks, an empty cash register, and thousands of dollars' worth of jewelry belonging to another vendor. Pearce said she believes the same thieves were behind both incidents.
Bliss Marketplace shared surveillance footage and incident details on social media, describing the suspect as slim-built and roughly 5 feet 6 inches tall, wearing a distinctive Frida Kahlo shirt and carrying a navy-blue backpack and a striped bag. The business believes the suspect may be using a bike to get around. People with information are encouraged to contact Bliss Marketplace or the Sacramento Police Department.
For Pearce, the losses carry a weight beyond dollar figures. She is a breast cancer survivor who was diagnosed five years ago and is still paying off medical bills from treatment, and she said her business at Bliss Marketplace is her third job. Despite the back-to-back thefts, she said she hopes to keep her business going.
Nine-Hour Wait for a Police Report
Bliss Marketplace said officers did not arrive to take a report on the second break-in until nine hours after it was discovered, per the marketplace's account relayed to KCRA. The Sacramento Police Department said it prioritizes calls for service based on threats to life or public safety and whether a crime is actively in progress, and that response times may be longer once a suspect is no longer present at the scene.
A 2017 CBS News Sacramento report examined 911 call-answering times and dispatcher staffing, including a 15-second answer standard, per CBS News Sacramento.
Police said the burglaries have been documented and remain under investigation, with no suspect information available at the time of publication. The department said it will continue evaluating evidence and information that may help identify those responsible.
Part of a Bigger Midtown Pattern
A separate spree of about nine small-business burglaries was reported before February 9, 2026. Sacramento police investigated incidents reported from Monday night through early Wednesday morning, primarily in downtown Sacramento; the spree led to the arrest of a 46-year-old suspect linked to five of the break-ins, according to ABC10.
Founded in 2016 by Stacy Tomlinson and Sydnei Kelly, Bliss Marketplace operates a vendor collective model for independent artisans and vintage sellers, and the Midtown location hosts more than 110 independent vendors under one roof, according to the business. The company has plans for new locations in Folsom and Elk Grove, with the Folsom site planned to open in late July or early August 2026 and the Elk Grove location still awaiting keys, according to What Now.
Commercial burglary in California is charged under Penal Code Section 459, which covers entering a non-residential structure with intent to commit theft or a felony. It is classified as a wobbler offense, meaning prosecutors can pursue it as either a misdemeanor or a felony depending on factors like prior record, according to Eisner Gorin LLP. A felony conviction for second-degree commercial burglary carries up to three years in county jail, while a misdemeanor carries up to one year, per the Shouse Law Group.
Statewide, the California Department of Justice reported that commercial structures made up 62.2 percent of all burglaries in 2025, though only 10.2 percent of California burglaries that year were cleared by arrest, according to Guardian National Security. California property crime reached its lowest level since 1985 in 2024. For vendors like Pearce, those broader declines offer little comfort after watching years of inventory disappear twice in two weeks.
