PALM BAY, Fla. – A burglar stole a vehicle from a used car lot, but the thief was not through terrorizing the family business, according to Palm Bay police.
Investigators said around 5:40 a.m. Monday, a burglar at Magical Hands Auto on Canova Street set the building on fire upon leaving.
"For anybody to just come and destroy it, it's very sad," said Anaeva "Hannah" Vazquez with Magical Hands.
Vazquez told News 6 her parents built her family's livelihood at the business.
She said around 2 a.m., the alarm went off at the building, but the family mistakenly figured it must have been nothing.
Vazquez said over the next few hours, the burglar broke into a couple of cars and drove away with a white 2005 Ford Ranger pickup.
Upon leaving, that's when police said the burglar started the fire.
"And as soon as he leaves and gets in the car, you see the flames start," said Vazquez, describing what she said was the burglar caught on the store's surveillance cameras.
Vazquez said that video was turned over to police.
News 6 requested the surveillance video but police did not release it to the media Monday.
"It's sad. This is something that my parents worked for. This is something they've been doing for a very long time," Vazquez said.
She told News 6 her family is taking comfort knowing no one was hurt and the building is insured.
However, the damage extends beyond material items.
Vazquez said the family kept an urn in the building, holding a loved one's ashes.
"Day by day, it's going to be hard but it will make us stronger," she said.
Police did not tell News 6 Monday if officers are looking for a suspect.
Check back with News 6 and ClickOrlando.com for updates to this story.