Police spokeswoman Candace Keas said the break-in was reported just after 4 a.m. in the 3300 block of E. 12th Street.But surveillance video from inside and outside the store show at least five men wearing hoods and masks breaking into the store, rummaging about and then leaving in two cars: A Chevy SUV and a white Lexus.
The owner said the thieves stole about 40 cartons of cigarettes and the cash register. They also tried to steal money from the ATM machine inside the store but were unsuccessful. They were inside the store for 17 minutes. It's also unclear if they were armed. Stores and people in Fruitvale Village have unfortunately been the targets of criminal activity before.