Police: Montclair businesses targeted in string of 'smash and grab' burglaries
The businesses where the burglaries occurred, and cash was taken, include Chicken and Shawarma on Bloomfield Avenue, Marcel Bakery and Kitchen, on Valley Road and Toro Sushi in Upper Montclair Plaza.
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The Montclair Police Department says several businesses have been targeted in a string of "smash and grab" type burglaries.
Several businesses were impacted between Feb. 28 and March 2, police say.
The businesses where the burglaries occurred, and cash was taken, include Chicken and Shawarma on Bloomfield Avenue, Marcel Bakery and Kitchen, on Valley Road and Toro Sushi in Upper Montclair Plaza.
Police say someone tried to get into Juniper Yoga and Fitness on Bellevue Avenue but couldn't get past the deadbolt.
The owner of Marcel Bakery and Kitchen received a call Sunday from an employee alerting him the front door was broken. Surveillance footage reveals what happened at 1 a.m.
"Two guys came, they broke the front door with a crowbar," says co-owner Daniel Benzeev. "My partner had a few restaurants, and I had a lot of time in the industry and never happened before. It makes me feel a little uneasy."
In the footage, two suspects are seen wearing hoods and ski masks at the register. They stole $150 and ran out.
At Toro Sushi, the front glass door was smashed and between $200-300 was removed from the cash drawer. Chicken and Shawarma Express also had its glass door broken.
"The guy came in, broke the door, and stole the money," says Omar, an employee. "This is not safe, not safe for any store, any shop."
That incident was captured on surveillance around 5:45 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 28. A total of $210 was stolen from the register.
Police released the photo of a person of interest they are looking for in connection to the burglaries. The person was wearing a black puffy jacket with black sneakers, black pants and a mask.
Police are asking if anyone recognizes the person of interest or might have any information about these incidents to contact them.
