For two weeks in a row, thieves smashed the back plexiglass door to the Sun Valley Deli and made off with bottles of liquor.
"We think it's the same people," Sun Valley Police Chief Cameron Daggett said. "It's the same method of entry—smash in the rear door. The first time it was only one individual and the second time he brought a friend."
The first burglary occurred early in the morning of Aug. 19, when a lone burglar smashed in the door and walked off with one bottle of Bacardi rum and two bottles of Ketel vodka.
The second burglary occurred around 2 a.m. on Thursday, Aug. 27. Police were still compiling a list of stolen inventory, but believe the thieves made off with eight bottles of alcohol.
The second incident was caught on surveillance camera, but Daggett said the thieves covered their heads, making identification difficult.
"They're all covered up with hoody shirts and hats," Daggett said. "They were carrying bags, either canvas or grocery bags. They just swept in so many bottles and were out the door. They were only in there about 20 seconds."
Daggett said it appears that both culprits are men in their 20s. One of them is wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, black pants and black-and-white tennis shoes. The other is wearing a blue baseball cap, a red bandana, a black sweater, shorts and slip-on shoes.
The police chief said the crime is a felony, regardless of the value of the liquor stolen.
"They're doing more damage to the door than they're stealing in liquor," Daggett said.
Terry Smith: tsmith@mtexpress.com
