Dallas

Four Restaurants Burglarized, Dallas Police Stepping Up Patrols

Dallas police are increasing patrols after a series of business burglaries in a popular area of North Oak Cliff.

Several restaurants have been hit in less than a month. The most recent happened on Sunday at Jonathon's along North Beckley Avenue.

Now, more officers than usual are patrolling the immediate area as patrol chiefs are working overtime to devise a crime fighting plan.

"They literally just took all of this out, and this is what I walked into basically," said Jonathon's owner Christine Erdeljac.

It's certainly not how she wanted to start her Sunday morning, especially since she says her restaurant has been burglarized now twice in just over a week.

"They essentially just ripped off the whole door frame and really just damaged this area behind this door here," Erdeljac said.

She says the criminals pretty much cleared the shelves of liquor, emptied the register and even swiped her very first framed $100 bill.

Police say her business along North Beckley Avenue is just one of four that have been hit in the last month, including Spiral Diner and VH Restaurant right next door.

"Part of it is to not only fight crime but also the perception and the fear of crime, so we have to do that by increasing our presence," said Deputy Chief Albert Martinez.

Martinez says officers are now saturating the Oak Cliff neighborhood, sending a clear message this type of crime will not be tolerated.

"I think that's amazing," said Erdeljac. "That was one of my first questions, are they going to keep an eye on this area? Because clearly we are a target right now."

Erdeljac says business owners also need to be vigilant. She'll be installing security cameras and has a message for the repeat thieves.

"Why? I mean, if you want my honest opinion, go get a job quit breaking into businesses, quit taking what some of us work really hard and put our life and our soul into," Erdeljac said.

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