At least three vape shops were broken into this week, including Texas Vape Stores and Faddoosh on the west side.
SAN ANTONIO — A rash of early-morning burglaries has impacted vape stores across San Antonio this week, including Texas Vape on the northeast side, which caught the suspects on camera.
It was around 3:30 a.m. on Thursday when hooded thieves broke into Texas Vape along the 1500 block of Austin Highway and got away with more than $20,000 worth of merchandise.
“One of them jumped over this counter. I’m surprised he didn’t crash the glass,” said owner Richard Tisdale. “Funny thing is we couldn’t figure out why the refrigerator doors were open. I figure maybe they thought we hid money in there.”
The suspects rummaged through the inventory room in the back of the store where they collected handfuls of merchandise and spotted one of the surveillance cameras.
Tisdale stressed how business is already strained due to recent state legislation banning the sale of Chinese-made disposable vapes.
“We keep product when we can get it back here,” Tisdale said. “We don’t have a lot. And they’re even more empty now that these guys came by.”
Texas Vape Stores is one of at least three smoke shops hit by thieves this week, including Faddoosh on the city’s West Side. It remains unclear whether the same group is behind all of the break-ins.
Despite the setback, Tisdale remains hopeful.
“I’m very optimistic. I think the police really want to catch them,” he said.
Tisdale said blood was found at the scene, which police detectives collected as evidence.
San Antonio police have not arrested anyone in connection with the recent rash of smoke shop burglaries.