Restaurant Break-Ins: A Growing Concern for Houston Business Owners
Thefts and Break-Ins on the Rise in Houston
Lung Ly woke up on January 21 to a couple of missed calls from his alarm company. In a panic, he looked at the cameras of his Montrose restaurant, 93 ‘Til, and spotted something no owner wants to see: two intruders dressed in hoodies and face coverings. So, while everyone else was enjoying the rare winter snow and sledding at Hermann Park, Ly was cleaning up shards of glass.
"It was disappointing, because I wanted to make snow angels," Ly says. "They kind of just took the joy of it."
A Growing Concern for Restaurant Owners
In Houston, it’s a story that many restaurant owners are all too familiar with. Although it may seem like there’s been an uptick in restaurant break-ins from the looks of your social media feed, the incidents have decreased slightly over the past couple of years. According to the Houston Police Department, there were a total of 937 restaurant burglaries in 2022, 816 in 2023, and as of September 2024, there were 678 burglaries last year.
The Human Impact of Restaurant Break-Ins
The decrease is no less of a pain for restaurant owners who are affected. Sandy Nguyen, cofounder of Sunday Press in the Heights, was looking forward to taking her kids to school on their first day back after winter break, but that all came to a halt when she got a call from one of the restaurant’s drivers, who notified her of a break-in.
Naturally, she rushed over there. After assessing the damage, which was minimal and contained to the restaurant’s side door, she realized the perpetrator went straight for the safe, taking roughly $1,000 in cash, employees’ checks, and the business’s checkbook.
"I mean literally, [they] were out in maybe under two minutes," Nguyen says. "It was so quick."
The Aftermath of a Break-In
This wasn’t Sunday Press’s first go around. In early 2024, the restaurant was the target of another break-in, which was worse than the recent one. Someone used a sledgehammer to break all the cash registers, leaving behind about $4,000 in damages.
"It’s unfortunate," Nguyen says. "We’ve been in business for quite some time, so we feel that it’s part of the pains of owning any type of business. You run that risk."
Finding a Solution
As a precaution, Nguyen actually instructs her staff to leave the cash registers open when the restaurant is closed, because they are often more valuable than the actual money left inside. At 93 ‘Til in January, the intruders used a crowbar to break in through the restaurant’s dining room windows. After scoping out the place, they broke into the cash register and stole a few hundred dollars, but the material damage cost Ly more than what they walked away with.
"It’s more of a hassle than anything," Ly says. "They normally don’t take a whole lot of stuff. It’s just the aftermath we have to deal with."
A Call to Action
The owners of FegesBBQ have also been victims of burglary at their Spring Branch location. Erin Smith, co-owner of the restaurant, says she and her husband, Patrick, have both been in the industry long enough to know that every business is at risk throughout Houston, regardless of the neighborhood. Like at Sunday Press, the perpetrator at Feges BBQ went for the safe. Smith assumes this is because they were looking for quick cash.
"What’s frustrating for us, and probably anybody that this happens to, is when you break glass or break the door, all of the repairs and maintenance that have to be done to replace those windows and replace those broken items is significantly more expensive and higher value than the contents of what is in the safe," Smith says.
Lessons Learned
Restaurant owners are also contemplating how to minimize being targeted. Nguyen says they’re considering going cashless at Sunday Press, a strategy many operators have used to deter break-ins. At Feges BBQ, Smith says they already have a good alarm system and the Spring Branch location is heavily patrolled by a security team. At the end of the day, despite measures taken, she warns it can still happen to anyone.
If anything, they can always count on Houston diners’ support. Smith, Nguyen, Pauly, and Ly all used social media to spread awareness of what happened. Nguyen says the announcement of her most recent break-in got more than 800 likes. And with each post, the community made sure to show their love for the restaurants.
"So many people came in that we hadn’t seen before," Nguyen says. "It was kind of like a fresh start for us that entire week, really, to be able to gain new loyal customers."
FAQs
Q: How common are restaurant break-ins in Houston?
A: According to the Houston Police Department, there were 937 restaurant burglaries in 2022, 816 in 2023, and as of September 2024, there were 678 burglaries last year.
Q: What is the impact of a break-in on a restaurant?
A: The impact can be significant, including financial losses, damage to property, and a disruption to business operations.
Q: How can restaurant owners prevent break-ins?
A: Restaurant owners can take steps to prevent break-ins by installing security cameras, using alarm systems, and being mindful of their surroundings.
Q: What can restaurant owners do if they are the victim of a break-in?
A: Restaurant owners can file a police report, consider going cashless, and take steps to repair and maintain their property.
