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Thieve drag safe from Taco restaurant in Suwanee
Just days before Christmas, thieves targeted Beto's Tacos in Suwanee and dragged the safe out the door.
GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. - The Suwanee Police Department is currently seeking two individuals involved in a break-in at a popular restaurant where they made off with the establishment's safe and two cash registers.
On Sunday, just before 8:30 a.m., a police officer responded to a call from a concerned citizen reporting a smashed window at Beto's Tacos on Lawrenceville Suwanee Road. Upon arrival, the officer discovered that the glass door to the restaurant had been shattered.
Upon closer inspection, it was evident that the front desk had been rummaged through. Concerned about potential threats inside the building, the officer called for backup.
Subsequently, the restaurant owners were notified and informed the police that both the safe and cash registers were missing. According to the owners, the safe had not been emptied for about a week, containing an estimated $6,000, while the cash registers were found empty.
"We are small business owners," Correa told FOX 5's Deidra Dukes. "We are not a big chain, and we have a small team, so the money for us is very important. For a lot of people, they say oh it's nothing. For us it's a lot. It impacts our operations because that money is designated to buy some stuff, some meat, fruit, all the stuff we need to continue operating, so for us, it's a loss. It's a big loss for us, a big chunk of money."
Surveillance footage obtained by the owners revealed crucial details about the perpetrators. The video showed the thieves arriving in a Dodge Challenger with a distinctive black stripe around 3:18 a.m.
The footage depicted one possible suspect as a heavy-set man dressed in a black hoodie, black sweatpants, white shoes, a white face mask, and brown work gloves. The individual reportedly used a glass break tool to create a hole in the glass, eventually breaking the rest of it.
The suspects also stole employee paychecks and Christmas presents.
While Correa works to recover what was lost, he's thankful no one was at the restaurant when the thieves struck.
"Really, I'm so glad I wasn't here," Correa said. "Because if I was here in my office working, I don't know if I would be here talking right now."
Once inside, the man leaped over the counter, headed towards the manager's office, and removed the safe from the lower shelf. Subsequently, he carried the safe to the waiting Challenger and placed it in the trunk.
Next, the second thief entered the restaurant, rummaged through the front desk, and proceeded to take both cash registers to their vehicle.
The car left the parking lot at 3:24.
The Suwanee Police Department is urging anyone with information about the incident to contact them at 770-904-7627. Your assistance could prove crucial in resolving this case.