Conspiring Thieves Hit Salida Donut Shop, Take Owner's Purse And Wedding Ring
SALIDA (CBS13) – Investigators say a group of female robbers hit a well-known shop in Salida – and it was all caught on camera.
It started with an order of donuts, but Stanislaus Sheriff's deputies say the women came in for much more.
"They look like they've done it a few times already. They were so smooth," said Paulino Deramos, the shop owner's son-in-law.
On Friday, five women entered Salida Donuts.
The shop's owner Tonya Lim was behind the counter, taking their order.
She's hard-working woman, Deramos says, who's very well loved in the community.
"The first time I met her, she was so welcoming. She made me feel like I'm part of the family right away," Deramos said.
I don't know why anyone would do that to my mom.
--Holly Lim, daughter of Salida Donuts owner Tonya Lim
Deputies say one of the suspects asked to use the restroom. In the video, you can see her moving the trash in order to walk to the restroom in the back of the store.
"My mom has it where no one can go back there," said Tonya's daughter Holly.
Deputies say the others kept Tonya busy, changing their order multiple times, to give the suspect in the back of the store time to go for Tonya's purse.
Inside the purse, Tonya had more than a thousand dollars – and her wedding ring valued at about $10,000.
"I don't know why anyone would do that to my mom," Holly said.
It wasn't until after the women walked out of the donut shop that Tonya realized what had been taken.
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Deramos says the money can be replaced, but his mother-in-law's ring cannot.
Around the neighborhood, no one can believe this happened to a woman as kind as Tonya.
"We love her. She's just a wonderful lady, she totally didn't deserve this," said Nanette Spyksma, who works across the street.
Family members urge if you recognize anyone in the surveillance video, or if you recognize the car, to contact the sheriff's office.