A rock-wielding burglar smashed his way through multiple northeast Dallas restaurants early Thursday morning, making off with hundreds in cash and leaving shattered glass in his wake.
Surveillance footage captured what appears to be the same suspect breaking into Mario Bros Tacos on Abrams Road and Primos Brothers Pizza at Forest Lane and Abrams, using a large rock to shatter the front glass before entering to steal cash and employee tips. The brazen break-ins have left business owners covering costs out of pocket while police investigate.
“He got away with $300 to $400 in cash from our opening till and our staff tips,” said Mario Moya, owner of Mario Bros Tacos. “The most damage was to our window and door that he broke.” The restaurant was one of several businesses targeted in what appears to be a calculated spree.
Security cameras at both locations captured strikingly similar scenes: a suspect repeatedly throwing a rock at the front entrance until the glass gave way. In an odd twist, the burglar later placed the rock inside the stolen tip jar at Primos Brothers Pizza — perhaps as a calling card or simply as a convenient way to transport his tool of choice.
For small business owners already operating on thin margins, these incidents cut deeper than just the stolen cash. “I paid out of pocket for everything; the door, the window, the tips, the till,” Moya explained. “It’s unfortunate, but there are people out there that prefer to steal than work.”
Dallas police are actively investigating the break-ins but haven’t yet identified a suspect. As of Thursday, they had not officially connected the cases, though the similar method and proximity suggest possible links between the incidents.
Is this part of a broader crime trend in the area? While Old East Dallas has experienced several serious incidents recently — including a stabbing arrest, multiple shootings, and a narcotics investigation — authorities haven’t established any direct connection to these smash-and-grabs in the northeast part of the city.
The break-ins come amid ongoing concerns about property crime affecting small businesses across Dallas-Fort Worth. With the suspect still at large, other restaurant owners in the area are understandably on edge, with some considering additional security measures for their early-morning operations.
For now, places like Mario Bros Tacos are left picking up the pieces — literally and figuratively — while hoping police can track down the rock-throwing burglar before he strikes again.
