POMPANO BEACH, Fla. – Representatives from the Broward Sheriff’s Office are investigating after a group of thieves were caught on camera stealing supplies and equipment from the vans of a family-run plumbing business in Pompano Beach late Saturday night.
Local 10 News obtained surveillance video of the thieves using a blowtorch to pry through locks securing several service vans and cut them.
Another thief entered to pry open the doors before they both entered with several expensive pieces of equipment.
Mike Krobatsch, owner of John the Plumber, told Local 10 News that several trucks were hit during the robbery.
“Ten trucks (were) broken into and a lot of equipment is missing,” he said.
According to Krobatsch, the thieves smashed the windows of almost all of his official vehicles and were caught on camera rummaging through them, looking for anything they could find.
“I don’t know if they brought[the torches]themselves or if they took our torches and burned the locks,” he said.
What the video doesn’t show is the thieves parking about a block from the store so their vehicle won’t be seen before cutting through three chain link fences before entering the property.
“They got eight of our drain-cleaning machines, three or four, or our Pro-Press machines, which are about $2,000 each (and) some of the guy’s personal devices,” Krobatsch said.
For almost three hours. The men, both wearing black hoodies, one with his face covered and the other uncovered, took their time to steal from this family business.
Nearly $30,000 worth of tools and equipment were stolen, according to Krobatsch.
As BSO MPs continue to search for the thieves responsible, Krobatsch and his associates must pick up the pieces to try and keep their businesses afloat.
“We have to replace everything that was stolen and it hurts us. As a family business, we’re just trying to do what’s best for our customers,” he said.
Krobatsch told Local 10 News that doesn’t include the $30,000 in equipment and tools caused on the vehicles.
Detectives are asking anyone with information about the thieves to contact Broward Crime Stoppers at 954-493-8477.
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