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MILLCREEK -- A smash-and-grab burglary usually refers to a car burglary, but a Salt Lake County snowboard shop now knows there's another kind of costly smash-and-grab.
Milosport at 3117 E. 3300 South in Millcreek has good security with surveillance cameras. But when a burglar busted into the store with his Jeep about two weeks ago, employees could only watch the tape.
"It's pretty brazen, especially on a main road like this," said Josh Roberts, president of Milosport.
The surveillance tape shows a white, two-door Jeep Cherokee pull up to the front door of the snowboard and skate store at 3:56 a.m., Saturday, Dec. 19.
"He smashed both windows and ran a chain through the doors, hooked it up to his jeep and ripped the doors open," Roberts said.
On the tape, the masked burglar heads into the store, scoops up armloads of snow jackets and apparel, and loads the loot into his jeep. Three trips into the store; gone in less than three minutes.
"About 40 pieces of outerwear, [worth] approximately about $10,000," Roberts said.
Roberts got an early wakeup call that morning, and he's frustrated.
"Look at the tape," he said. "Seeing it's an adult, someone who should be responsible, get a job and buy stuff if they need it."
The burglary cost Milosport more than lost merchandise. They had to repair the broken doors. The security system was also damaged, so the store decided to beef it up while it had the repairs done.
Investigators say the white, two-door Jeep Cherokee is not common. They hope someone will recognize it and tip them off. They also think people are selling the stolen goods in grocery store parking lots.
"Just last week, a woman tried to return the clothing that had been stolen. She wanted to return it, and get a snowboard," said Salt Lake County sheriff's Lt. Don Hutson.
The woman had $400-$500 worth of merchandise. Employees pressed her for answers, and she admitted she bought the stolen goods out of the trunk of a car in Magna for $50.
"We know the product that's missing," Roberts said. "So, when it surfaces, like that lady, we're going to find them, and we're going to catch them."
This burglary is somewhat similar to a store burglary in Murray committed just one day earlier. On Dec. 18, a man rammed his pickup truck into a Mac computer store in Murray. He made off with thousands of dollars in merchandise and did plenty of damage to that store.
If you have a tip on either crime, call the Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office at 801-743-7000.
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Story compiled with contributions from Jed Boal and Amanda Butterfield.
