Restaurant hit by crooks for fourth time

NORTH MIAMI BEACH, Fla. (WSVN) -- Thieves with an appetite for crime were caught on video trying to break into a South Florida restaurant, which, according to the business owner, has been hit by burglars several times in the past.

Daniel Gordon has surveillance footage of the most recent burglary attempt at the kosher Chinese restaurant, Chai Wok. He hopes that someone out there can help him catch the burglars responsible in this latest crime, which occurred just after midnight Friday. "I'm livid," he said, "me and my partner, every step we take forward we're taking two steps back."

The restaurant, located off 164th Street and Northeast 16th Avenue, has been burglarized so many times Gordon has installed surveillance cameras and even a bar on the back door to try to keep intruders out.

This latest crime marks the fourth time his place was hit. In this latest attempted break-in, the culprits took their time to try to get through Gordon's reinforced back door. They would fail. One guy used a crowbar to pry and pry at the door while another acted as lookout. Twenty minutes later, according to the clock on the surveillance footage, they finally gave up.

Though Gordon's security kept the would-be burglars out this time, he said this has to stop. In the last robbery, the thieves made off with a big screen HDTV. An empty bracket reveals where it once hanged on the wall.

Gordon went through other recent crimes at his place of business. "The first time they came in, they basically vandalized the place," he said, "they broke monitors, computer monitors, and took nothing. The second time they came in, they took our flat screen 60-inch, charity boxes and other stuff that was in the store."

If you recognize the men caught on camera, call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS. Remember, you can always remain anonymous, and you may be eligible for a reward.

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