Say 'cheese': Thief breaks into surveillance camera store (KOMO)

Surveillance footage shows the thief running into the store in the early morning hours. Surveillance footage shows the thief running into the store in the early morning hours. Photo: / KOMO Photo: / KOMO Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Say 'cheese': Thief breaks into surveillance camera store (KOMO) 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

A thief who broke into a store in Des Moines early Friday morning didn't get much - two used computers.

But the store's owner wonders what the thief was thinking - the store sells surveillance cameras and the premises literally bristle with video cams that cover every nook and cranny.

As a result, police have good video footage of the suspect from several different angles.

And they're glad to have it, because there have been five commercial burglaries in the same area since December and this is the first one where they is video evidence to pursue.

The footage shows it took the thief only 10 seconds to break open the door of EC Computers, grab the merchandise and run back out.

He can be seen running through the door with a flashlight in his mouth, grabbing a computer off the counter and a laptop off the screen, then running back out the door.

He even forgets to close the door - then his pickup truck is seen driving away.

The store owner has the heist recorded from several different angles, both inside and out.

"It does surprise me, to be honest it does surprise me," says store owner Patricio Mendoza.

He had signs everywhere warning potential thieves he's got cameras running 24 hours a day.

"We have a lot of surveillance cameras, a lot of places that say we have surveillance cameras. We also install surveillance cameras," Mendoza says. "It's like the last place you'd think you come in, is a place like this. No - they are still doing it."

The burglar didn't wear a mask and didn't wear gloves. Maybe he just didn't care he was being photographed - since he did it anyway.

"What else can I do?" says Mendoza. "I already spent money on really expensive doors. What else do you have to do?"

Anyone who recognizes the suspect or has information about the break-in is asked to call Des Moines police.