In a harrowing sequence of events, Stockton business owner Claudia Ruiz faced two criminal incidents within a week: an armed robbery at her taco truck and a burglary at her restaurant, "La Baja Birrieria Tijuana." The latter event, which took place overnight on a recent Thursday, saw perpetrators breaking into the restaurant's kitchen and making away with the entire contents of a refrigerator.
Ruiz, still reeling from the armed robbery where assailants pointed guns at her employees' heads, is deeply concerned about the possibility of repeat incidents. "We haven't even gone through the first one and now it's the second one. It's a lot in one week," she shared with CBS13 reporter Steve Large.
Sadly, Ruiz isn't the only victim in the area. Stockton police have documented ten armed robberies targeting local businesses just this August. Another notable incident happened at the "Tacos El Grullense" restaurant, where an armed assailant held an employee at gunpoint, though they left without taking anything.
Stockton Police spokesperson, Officer Omer Edhah, remarked that while detectives are rigorously investigating these cases, no connections between them have been established so far. The department undertakes special check-ins in districts with rising crime rates. However, a significant challenge in addressing these incidents is the 130-officer shortage the Stockton Police Officers Association reports.
Amidst the distress, the community has rallied around Ruiz, providing moral and emotional support. However, the financial toll of both crimes on her establishments has amounted to thousands of dollars.