Sacramento comics and toy store broken into twice in 3 days
SACRAMENTO — A Sacramento comics and toy store was broken into early Thursday morning. The business said this is the fourth break-in it has experienced and the second in three days.
World's Best Comics & Toys, on Watt Avenue in the Arden-Arcade area, posted to Facebook that security footage from Thursday seems to show the same guy from the prior incident and that the guy "had the same YUGIOH card and Transformers obsession." The Sacramento County Sheriff's Office said it has not yet confirmed if both incidents were related.
In both of the recent incidents — April 29 and May 2 — photos released by the business show the burglar entered the building by smashing through the same front glass door. Following Thursday's break-in, the business said it had to install a new security gate.
"Our security video shows the exact same guy, stealing the exact same thing and stealing the exact same stuff," owner Dave Downey said.
Downey said the merchandise stolen equaled out to more than $5,000.
"I was devastated, the cleanup was a monstrous mess," Downey said.
Since the Facebook post, the community has now shown support by coming by and helping keep the comic book store alive.
"It's actually a really feel-good moment during a really terrible time," Downey said.
Farhan Ghani is among the dozens of people who stopped by Saturday attempting to help a small business bounce back.
"This is actually one of our favorite comic book stores. Born and raised in the Bay Area but I've been coming up here since I was a kid to give support to Dave," Ghani said.
Some didn't know about the break-in but were surprised to know others had come out to show support.
"I think that's awesome. I like to see companies with customers that care about them and it makes me want to shop here more," said Anthony Martinez.
Customers lined out the door to show support during a terrible time, hoping the World's Best Comics & Toys will bounce back.
"This is far beyond anything I've ever seen before," Downey said.
The suspect had apparently cut himself on the glass and left blood in various spots, the business said. Investigators showed up to gather evidence.