LAS VEGAS (FOX5) — A string of burglaries in west Las Vegas late last year is impacting businesses’ bottom lines and forcing at least one to close down.
Chef Brandi Bond, owner of Pretty Soul Kitchen, watched from her surveillance camera as a thief smashed windows and stole cash and liquor from her restaurant.
Data pulled directly from Metro PD reveals a troubling trend: the top spots hit within the last year are Spring Valley and Summerlin, both neighborhoods in the west valley.
Restaurant hit twice in December
Pretty Soul Kitchen was burglarized twice at the end of last year. In December, the suspect hit more than a dozen small businesses nearby and in the same shopping plaza. The thief smashed the bottom window, crawled in, stole hundreds of dollars’ worth of items, and left behind costly damage.
“When we talk about everything that was lost and had to re-replace, I had to come out of pocket roughly about $12,000,” Bond said.
Surveillance video shows 27-year-old T’Shawn Allen, the man police say is responsible, breaking the window of the restaurant and crawling inside before making off with stolen items and cash.
Police began their investigation after multiple reports of commercial burglaries were filed throughout the valley on Dec. 21. Two days later, on Dec. 23, several additional burglaries were reported in the northwest valley and North Las Vegas.
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The burglaries affected restaurants and businesses near Sahara and Tenaya, including Café Lola, Pretty Soul Kitchen, Cobblestone Cottage, Thai Spa, Casa Mia Pizzeria, and Filo Grill Mediterranean Restaurant.
In total, police say Allen was responsible for burglarizing Pretty Soul Kitchen and more than a dozen businesses in the Summerlin area.
“Definitely heartbroken, especially being a small business and knowing that that type of damage can impact the progress,” Bond said.
Allen is facing multiple felonies, including 10 counts of burglary, two counts of attempted burglary and 12 counts of property destruction. He is still in custody awaiting a competency hearing scheduled for next month.
West Valley neighborhoods top burglary list
Data from the Las Vegas Metro PD shows Spring Valley and Summerlin as the areas with the most reported burglaries within the last year.
Spring Valley reported 238 burglaries with 49 arrests, while Summerlin reported 224 burglaries with 49 arrests, according to Metro.
Other areas with high burglary reports include Southeast with 195 reported and 44 arrested, South Central with 185 reported and 39 arrested, and Enterprise with 173 reported and 39 arrested.
The Convention Center area reported 170 burglaries with 59 arrests, Northeast reported 169 burglaries with 28 arrests, Northwest reported 149 burglaries with 49 arrests, Bolden reported 133 burglaries with 37 arrests, and Downtown reported 109 burglaries with 51 arrests.
Pretty Soul Kitchen was burglarized twice last year, and Bond says that, between the repairs, insurance, and the rising expenses, she was forced to make the decision to close.
“I really prayed about it. I prayed hard about it,” Bond said.
Bond plans to host private dining events and catering and is exploring virtual cooking lessons. She has launched a tasting and social club membership offering curated culinary experiences, monthly tasting events, and cooking classes. More information is available at shopartofflavor.com.
“As far as the restaurant, I don’t think I would do anything differently. Because I really have put my best foot forward,” Bond said.
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