ORLANDO, Fla. – Police are searching for a man they say was caught on video breaking into Ten10 Brewing Co. earlier this month and stealing cash.
Surveillance video shows the man heaving a large rock through the front window of the brewery at 1010 Virginia Drive in Orlando on Jan. 10, police said.
The owner told News 6 the man stole cash from two registers, prying one open and then using a key to open the second.
"And it wasn't just the cash he stole, it was all the recovery costs, the door, the cash drawer, the replacement cash, that's what hurt us, even worse than the theft," said Patrick McPherson, owner of Ten10 Brewing Co. "To me it's the show of a coward, the show of a punk who can't go out and get a job. He's taking advantage of small businesses, we feel like he's so familiar with the places he's robbed and they say the same thing."
McPherson, and several other small business owners in the area, said they've compared surveillance video and they believe the same man wearing a hooded sweatshirt has broken into at least 10 businesses in the Mills 50 area of Orlando.
Surveillance video recorded the man and provided police with a vague description. The man was wearing a hooded sweatshirt.
"I'd like to say it was a complete shock but it wasn't," McPherson said. "He's been hitting all kinds of businesses in the neighborhood, all small businesses and he's really creating a lot of havoc in the neighborhood. I got to tell you, it was the roll of a roulette wheel, it was just our time."
The brewing company posted a message to Facebook directed toward the person who broke into the store.
“Thank you for helping yourself to our cash last night. It seems you've been making the rounds around town,” the post read.
The owners ended the post with a reference to the movie “Taken,” writing: “We will find you.”
Tyler Granville, general manager of The Brass Tap just around the corner from Ten10, said two TVs were taken off his porch in December. A couple of days later, two more TVs were pulled from ceiling mounts hanging above the patio of Yamasan Sushi next door. Days after that, three TVs were stolen from the patio of Firebirds across the street.
"I just don't understand how it could happen in two weeks so consecutively, every other night so consistently," Granville said. "My employees left at 12:15 on a Sunday night and at 12:30 is when their TVs were stolen. So someone is watching, someone knows what's going on."
Yan Chow, the owner of Yamasan Sushi, said so far her husband hasn't been able to replace the TVs.
"Obviously have to replace it and spend money but I call my insurance company, because the TV is outside, most likely won't be covered," Chow said. "My husband does plan on replacing, but not right away, still need to save up first."
Chow and Granville are frustrated.
"We just want to be protected by the (police department), we want to make sure our stuff is safe here overnight, we can't be here overnight," Granville said.
Orlando police said they have not identified the man in the video and don't know if the cases are related.
"We understand their frustration but please know detectives are working tirelessly to solve these crimes," Sgt. Wanda Miglio said. "The Orlando Police Department is always evaluating crime trends, sharing intelligence between units and deploying its resources for targeted enforcement of crime. Every week, command staff and representatives from every corner of the department meet for a criminal intelligence meeting in which crime trends are discussed and successes are shared among the department. If there is a rash of property or other crime, OPD leaders increase patrols in certain areas, or ask officers to talk to residents or neighborhood watch groups about crime prevention steps and strategies."
The business owners said they have asked their landlord to provide nighttime security, but that hasn't happened.
Anyone with information can call Crimeline at 1-800-423-TIPS.