Savannah restaurant owner warns businesses amid rash of burglaries

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) - A Savannah restaurant owner is warning local businesses to stay on high alert after her restaurant was broken into twice, part of a growing rash of commercial break-ins that police are investigating across the city.

Maronda Pierce, co-owner of Kim’s Cafe on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard in downtown Savannah, says she feels completely violated after a repeat break-in targeted her business twice in less than a month.

Pierce says the first break-in occurred on May 16, when a person entered through a window. Surveillance footage shows the person taking their time, taking food out of the freezer, grabbing a cheesecake, and even a pitcher of lemonade, and cutting the wires to the cash register to steal money.

In response, Pierce upgraded its security system. However, a person returned on June 10.

Pierce says the person entered through the same window and upon hearing the alarm, the person acted quickly, ripping the cash register from the counter and breaking the building’s door frame to escape before smashing the register open in the back parking lot. While Pierce believes it is the same person in both incidents, police have not confirmed if the crimes are connected.

In total, Pierce says the break-ins resulted in $1,600.00 in property damage and $4,300.00 in stolen cash. Pierce says she is still waiting to hear back from the Savannah Police Department regarding the investigation.

The double burglary at Kim’s Cafe comes as Savannah police deal with a spike in commercial property crimes. On Thursday, detectives launched an investigation into a fresh series of burglaries at Ms. Polly’s Giant Cakes on Ogeechee Road.

These latest incidents also follow a sweeping spree in the nearby Starland District, where business owners reported at least five overnight break-ins in a single night.

Pierce believes the repeated hits on her restaurant indicate the person is familiar with the neighborhood. She is urging other small business owners in the area to proactively upgrade their security systems and review their insurance policies to protect themselves.

Savannah police are urging anyone with information on any of the recent break-ins to come forward, reminding the public that if they see something suspicious in their neighborhoods, they should say something immediately.