SAN DIEGO — A thief believed to have carried out several Tierrasanta-area commercial burglaries earlier this month struck again in the same neighborhood Monday, breaking into and looting two more businesses.
The latest in the spate of property crimes took place about 3 a.m. at a Dairy Queen restaurant and at Sangucheria Peruvian Street Food, both located in the 5900 block of Santo Road, according to the San Diego Police Department.
The bandit fled with several hundred dollars from each business and a safe from one of them, SDPD Detective Sgt. Brian French said.
Jorge Reategui, co-owner of Sangucheria Peruvian Restaurant, reported significant damage to his business.
"They take all the cash... they take the cash in the cashier and we have a safety box with cash - they take it too," Reategui said. The burglar smashed two glass windows, which will cost around $1,500 to repair.
Nearby, Craig Engler's Dairy Queen was also hit.
"This entire door was shattered... million pieces. Police had just taped it off until I got here," Engler explained. The thief made off with a cash bag containing coins and single dollar bills, amounting to a couple hundred dollars.
The perpetrator is believed to have burglarized three other food-service businesses in the same community northwest of San Diego State University in recent weeks -- Tierrasanta Mexican Food on Nov. 4, and Round Table Pizza and Tutuli Mexican Eatery on Nov. 19.
Surveillance cameras have captured images of the burglar, who appears to be 20 to 35 years old, according to police.
Despite the setbacks, business owners remain resilient. "San Diego is a good place to have a restaurant... and we're going to continue... and even sad, we have to continue fighting," Reategui said.
Anyone who might be able to help investigators identify the man was asked to call San Diego County Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477 or contact the agency online at sdcrimestoppers.org. Tipsters may remain anonymous and could be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000.