Shirtless thief breaks into northeast Wichita restaurant, steals register

WICHITA, Kan. (KWCH) — At least two businesses on the same strip of E. 21st Street North have been burglarized in recent months, leaving owners and employees facing repair bills that have cut into their finances.

Sazon Mexican Restaurant, located at 2624 E. 21st St. N., was broken into early Wednesday morning. A person shattered the front door, took money from the counter and stole the cash register on the way out. The door is estimated to cost around $2,000 to fix, with glass repairs adding another $600.

The restaurant shared surveillance video of the break-in with 12 News.

“I got a phone call really early saying, ‘Hey, we just got broken into. Check the cameras, check the cameras,’” said Eli Cruz, a waiter at Sazon.

“It was mainly just the damage of the door that really, like, it’s a pain,” Cruz said. “That’s rent right there. It’s quite a bit of money.”

Two doors down from Sazon, House of Vaporz has been burglarized three times in recent months — twice through one door and once through a window, according to owner Hunter Flax.

“Our biggest expense was definitely the windows, doors, and I mean, each door ran about 600 bucks, and then the window that we’re about to get fixed ran 800,” Flax said.

Flax said repair costs hurt more financially than lost inventory. He said he was troubled to see Sazon targeted.

“They’ve been the anchors here, they’ve been the longest standing business in this retail strip, so I don’t know why they would decide to go after them,” Flax said. “I felt so bad.”

The break-in at Sazon is the second the restaurant has experienced in its eight years of operation. Cruz said the response from others on the strip has been a source of support.

“I’m just happy to see that everyone’s being supportive, no one’s really talking down on the whole situation, everyone’s just more so worried, especially everyone here on the strip,” Cruz said.