A small, family-owned computer store in Orange County is reeling after burglars break-in to their shop for the second time in two months.
In the most recent incident, thieves hit Mac Computers in Anaheim in the early morning hours of Aug. 12 and break everything they can think of in hopes of silencing the blaring alarm.
In surveillance footage of the incident, thieves can be heard drilling through the locks of a sturdy steel backdoor, then cut their way through a rolling door and a gate, but before the three masked suspects appear on the store’s cameras, the video freezes.
Melissa Delgado, who manages the store, told KTLA’s Rachel Menitoff that the burglars likely disarmed the shop’s Wi-Fi and disrupted security cameras for a short period of time.
“Usually, they don’t get this far,” Delgado explained. “It just makes us rethink what we need to do to secure the location again.”
Unfortunately, the crooks destroyed everything they could think of that might stop the blaring alarm, though ultimately, they were undeterred by the noise.
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Surveillance cameras captured thieves breaking into Mac Computers in Anaheim on Aug. 12, 2024. (viewer image) -
Surveillance cameras captured thieves breaking into Mac Computers in Anaheim on Aug. 12, 2024. (viewer image) -
A piece of the store’s security damaged as burglars attempted to silence the alarm on Aug. 12, 2024. (viewer image)
In another camera angle, the suspects are seen loading up on Apple AirPods, camera gimbles, Nintendo Switches, as well as unknowingly making off with empty boxes.
In her experience, the Mac Computer Store manager said these types of professional burglars know exactly how much time they have before authorities arrive.
“That’s usually the thing,” she explained. “They’re in and out in six minutes and it was cutting into that time. Maybe they ran out of time and just left.”
In May, the last time the store was broken into, a thief gained entrance by cutting through the drywall of a vacant shop next door. In that case, police were able to find the person and all the stolen merchandise, but Delgado said that in most cases, the culprits are not caught.
“If police can’t get here soon enough to arrest anyone, I know it’s really tough on their side and it’s tough on our side,” she said. “What can really happen?”
For their part, the owners of Mac Computers kcontinue to strengthen their surveillance, hoping to wear down any future thieves looking to loot the store.
“It’s really had to sleep at night,” Delgado said. “You never know if the alarm is going to go off.”
The latest robbery caused at least $5,000 in damage to the store.
So far, those responsible for this break-in have yet to be captured.