LAS VEGAS (FOX5) — Surveillance video captured a man pulling into the parking lot of Catalina Mexican Restaurant, putting on a glove, and ripping out the plants lining the front of the business before driving away. The incident, which happened a few weeks ago, has since prompted an outpouring of support from customers and the local Latino community.
General Manager Paulina Fierros said she noticed something was missing when she arrived for work the morning after the incident.
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“I want to explain to everyone — watch the video carefully. It’s not about the plants, or people coming in and taking a straw or a fork; that’s not it. It’s about the way they did it,” Fierros said.
Community responds
Fierros said she shared the video on social media hoping someone might recognize the truck. Instead, customers began showing up to offer support — including donations of plants to replace the ones that were taken.
“So what they did was they said, ‘We are really sorry about what happened, but we have some plants. Even if they’re different, we can give them to you,’” Fierros said.
Customers were able to replace the damaged plants completely. Fierros said the response left her feeling hopeful.
“Well, in this country, we all have to help and protect each other. And honestly, I really appreciated the messages from my customers — there were friends and family members who wrote to me, saying, ‘Are you okay? Take good care of yourselves,’” Fierros said.
A message of unity
Fierros said the incident is a reminder of the support she has found within Las Vegas’s Latino community.
“We Latinos and the Hispanic community have always been there for each other through thick and thin, always ready to support one another,” Fierros said.
Fierros said she does not want the focus to remain on the incident, but instead hopes people remember the community that helped Catalina Mexican Restaurant move forward.
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