Several downtown and Six Points-area restaurants were broken into last weekend, including Sandi's Diner, Executive Surf Club, and Price's Chef.
All three break-ins have cost restaurant owners hundreds of dollars in repairs. During a time when businesses already are struggling because of COVID-19, owners and employees said the vandalism is frustrating.
KRIS 6 News spoke to the owner of Sandi's Diner, who said the restaurant has been broken into two times in the past three weeks, with one incident happening on Easter morning. In both cases, those involved threw chunks of asphalt through the same back window and let themselves in.
“It was just destruction," said Sandra Clark. "No rhyme or reason, just being destructive and looking for cash. The police came in because I was afraid there was somebody in here, and they kind of said, ‘It's happening all over town,’ and I didn't feel safe here."
Clark said the vandals took $250 during the first break-in, but thankfully didn’t get away with anything in the second break-in.
That wasn’t the only break-in committed on Easter morning. A half-mile away, Price’s Chef was also broken into. Vandals smashed the front windows of the Six Points restaurant and destroyed the inside of the business.
About two miles away, Executive Surf Club General Manager Luis Contreras said the day before Easter, his restaurant was targeted, too. He said he received several phone calls from the alarm system company about the break-in, which was caught on camera.
"This (the window) was already broken into,” he said. “He (the suspect) used a cinder block and knocked out the window and went in and took some liquor bottles."
All three restaurants have been closed recently or have limited services because of the county stay-at-home order. Clark and Contreras said it’s unfortunate their businesses were targeted, when they’re just trying to get by during a tough time.
“It’s kind of sad that people will take advantage of places that are already hurting to begin with,” said Contreras.
“Any break-in, whether something was taken or destroyed, is putting me in the negative, setting me farther back than I already am,” said Clark. “I just say a prayer everyday when I leave here to God: 'Please protect my diner, I'll be back tomorrow.' ”
The Corpus Christi Police Department is still investigating these crimes. At this time, there is no suspect description. If you have any information about the break-ins, you're asked to contact police.
