CHANDLER, Ariz. — Several businesses were broken into overnight in the East Valley, causing thousands of dollars worth of damage.
Two suspects broke into the Milan Salon & Spa around 3 a.m., near Warren and Alma School roads on Friday. Surveillance video shared with 12News from the spa shows them using a hammer on a glass door to get inside.
The men were inside the business for 30 seconds. One of them looks inside a bag but puts it back, as the other suspect is seen pacing around. They take nothing, run out, and get inside a black SUV-type vehicle waiting for them outside.
“It seems like they were after anything that would look like it would have cash in it,” said Amelia Scow, who works at the beauty salon, told 12News. “It’s scary.”
The same scenario played out next door at Chon Thai Food in the same plaza. Someone broke into the restaurant after they shattered the front glass door.
May Rowden, owner of the restaurant, told 12News the suspects took a cash register that had about $60 worth of coins.
“I was just shocked because of the amount of mess that they left behind,” said Rowden. “My first thought was, ‘How do I keep this business up and running today?’”
At around 3:30 a.m. two suspects that match the same description as the previous surveillance video break into Mr. Zeke's restaurant in Gilbert, near McQueen and Warren Roads.
The owner, Antonio Sanchez, told 12News the suspects hammered one of the machines used to place orders. He usually leaves his cash register empty and the drawer open, he said he believes that helped deter the criminals.
“It worked because they saw that and they left right away, they didn’t really look for anything else,” Sanchez said. “They looked around but didn’t steal anything at all. They were just looking for money.”
At the same plaza in Gilbert, at least two more businesses were hit — #1 Epic Nails & Spa and Sushi San.
“Not one, not two, but eight at the same time, that takes a lot of guts,” Rowden said. “They need to go get a job and not take my money or other people’s money who work so hard to earn it.”
Gilbert police tell 12News witnesses reported seeing the break-ins. The suspects fled, but two were later arrested.
The department said the vehicle the criminals were in was stolen out of Scottsdale. They believe the suspects are tied to similar incidents that occurred on Tuesday in Gilbert.
“They just cost at least me, personally, a whole day of business. Not being able to open, so I lost money there,” Sanchez said.
All of the businesses that were targeted are local small businesses.
“I feel so violated,” Rowden said. “Yesterday was my daughter’s birthday, we had a great day and this is what I woke up to.”
Chandler nor Gilbert police would confirm the total number of businesses that were broken into, nor provide details on the suspects. The agencies said the investigation includes multiple jurisdictions and is ongoing.
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