Stockton's downtown restaurant, Eat at Clark's, has faced repeated break-ins within just six months of its operation.
The co-owners and spouses, Andre and Marissa Clark, have found themselves dealing with a disconcerting routine of shattered glass and broken locks.
The Clark couple, who transitioned from a decade-long catering business to this brick-and-mortar establishment on Market Street, are now investing in private security and surveillance to keep their dream alive.
"It started with our vehicle in the back, and then our front doors, and our windows and now our back door... so it's a lot," expressed Marissa, detailing the extent of the burglaries, which have occurred six times since their January opening.
Despite removing valuables each night and showing that the cash register is empty, the break-ins persist. Recently, the perpetrators took a speaker and a DoorDash tablet, causing more inconvenience than financial loss.
The couple, resilient in the face of these adversities, is appealing to the community for support while a $500 reward has been offered for information leading to an arrest. Even as the Stockton Police Department is investigating the incidents, the Clark couple is determined not to let fear dampen their spirit.
"We feel very blessed to be able to have the opportunity to show our children that you got to go after your dreams. You know, you can't be scared," affirmed Marissa, hoping for more support and an end to the break-ins.
