FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Thieves struck twice in one night, but when their first plan went up in smoke, they went for whatever they could find at a Fort Lauderdale cigar shop.
According to the owner of Ash and Vine Cigar Shop, the two culprits tried breaking into a nearby T-Mobile store first, probably after pricey electronics.
When they couldn’t get in, they settled for the cigar shop next door and got off with some lighters instead.
Video shows two men breaking into Ash and Vine, located at 31 N. Federal Highway, early Saturday morning. It was grab-and-go as the pair stuffed lighters into a green tote bag.
One of the men was wearing a shirt wrapped around his neck, but his accomplice had no disguise.
“They took a bunch of lighters, so thankfully they didn’t go crazy,” Ash and Vine’s owner, Alvaro Cornavaca, said.
Cornavaca says the thieves didn’t get to the good stuff — the cigars in the back — but it will still cost a pretty penny to replace the broken glass and lost merchandise.
“They were basically taking off the merchandise from here,” Cornavaca said.
When asked about the value of the loss, Cornavaca estimated, “A couple hundred. I would say right now about $500 worth of lighters. The glass is another huge expense.”
On Monday, Cornavaca and his staff spent time restocking the shelves and getting the glass fixed. He said they were fortunate the security system alerted him and police immediately.
No arrests have been announced but Cornavaca said the crooks weren’t wearing any gloves and police were able to lift police.
Anyone who recognizes the culprits is asked to call Fort Lauderdale police.