Fresno police are investigating an early morning burglary at a liquor store near Shields and Cedar avenues after suspects used what the business owner described as a homemade tool to tear down the store’s security gate before stealing merchandise.

According to the Fresno Police Department, officers responded Monday at about 4:20 a.m. to Meta Liquor after two unidentified men burglarized the business.

Police said the suspects reversed the truck up to the front doors, retrieved a metal tool from the bed of the vehicle and attempted to wedge it into the security gate. The suspects then secured the metal objects to the rear of the truck and drove away from the building, causing significant damage to the security gate and the glass doors and windows.

Authorities said the suspects stole an unknown amount of lottery tickets, cigarettes, and other merchandise before fleeing. The investigation remains ongoing and the suspects have not been arrested.

Surveillance Footage Shows Makeshift Device

Surveillance video provided by the business showed the suspects using what appeared to be a specialized homemade device to remove the metal security barrier from the storefront. After pulling the gate away in a Chevrolet Silverado, one suspect ran inside while carrying a green bucket, according to the video.

The suspects appeared to remain inside the business for about a minute and a half before leaving with merchandise.

Business owner Harpreet Brar said the burglary happened quickly.

“They came around 4:11 a.m. and used a homemade tool that was just made for this purpose,” Brar said. “It wasn’t like a chain or something, the tool was like specifically to grab the pillar and just yank it out and then they were successful in the first yank and then they entered into the business.”

“They had green buckets and they grabbed all the cigarettes and I think like eight packs of lottery, a few bottles, some lighters and then they left around 4:14-4:15 a.m.,” Brar said.

‘If This Keeps Happening, I Will Not Be Able to Do This”

Brar said the burglary marked the fourth break-in at the business since he purchased it in November 2021.

He said previous break-ins largely targeted an ATM inside the store, which he later removed because of repeated repair costs.

“Three times they focused on the ATM,” Brar said. “This time, because I didn’t install no ATM, they just came inside and started grabbing cigarettes and stuff.”

Brar said the repeated incidents have become financially difficult for the business.

“I re-use my stuff every time,” he said. “It is still expensive for me and if this keeps happening I will not be able to do this.”

Unhoused Individual Enters, Rips Off the Store

Video from the incident also appeared to show another individual entering the store after the suspects left.

Brar said the female unhoused individual approached the business following the burglary and removed additional items from inside the store.

That same individual, Brar alleged, went back to the business later. Once he saw her, he said he called the Fresno police non-emergency line.

According to Brar, the only follow-up communication he received regarding that incident was a phone call from an officer around 2 a.m. on Tuesday.

“I received the call at 2 a.m.,” Brar said. “And they told me, do you want to prosecute? Are you going to press charges against that woman? I said, ‘yes.’ ”

Brar Said It Make Take a Week for a Court Order

Brar said the officer then explained what he understood to be the process moving forward.

“The guy over the phone told me it’s going to take at least five to seven days to get the judge to give them the order to arrest them,” Brar said. “And then they will start looking for her.”

Brar questioned whether the response time was appropriate, saying he believed officers should have immediately contacted the woman after reviewing the surveillance footage.

“So I don’t know if that’s the right process or they should just come if you can identify the person over the video,” he said.

The owner said they have contacted police more than 10 times this year to report issues involving unhoused individuals near the building.

Police Are Aware of Additional Theft

In response to questions about the additional theft, Fresno police said detectives are aware items were taken after the initial burglary and believe the burglary suspects had already fled before officers arrived.

Police declined to provide additional details, citing the ongoing investigation.

—

Connect with Anthony W. Haddad on social media. Got a tip? Send an email.