La Habra, Whittier, Fullerton restaurants hit in series of burglaries overnight

LA HABRA, Calif. (KABC) -- Police in La Habra, Whittier and Fullerton are looking into whether a series of overnight family-owned restaurant burglaries in the areas on Thursday are connected.

Eight restaurants in total, two in La Habra and three in Whittier and Fullerton, were all hit in the early morning hours. At each location, the suspect or suspects broke the windows to gain access into the business.

In La Habra, California Sushi & Teriyaki was targeted, but the suspects did not make off with anything, police said.

"There was a video, but it was kind of a low-quality, grainy video. All we could tell was there was a male wearing a jacket and shorts," La Habra police Sgt. Jose Quirarte said.

The second location, My Pizza Pub, was targeted and the burglar or burglars made off with cash and a register.

In Whittier, Rosarita Taco Grill, La Casita Olvera and Yang restaurants - that are all within the same shopping center - were burglarized. At the taco grill, authorities said the suspect or suspects ransacked the restaurant but did not appear to make with anything.

For the other two locations, the suspects made off with a safe and cash registers from the front desk.

"Usually I don't have money in the register at night because probably for these kind of cases," said Arturo Castillo, owner of La Casita.

The first incident happened around 1:50 a.m. and four minutes later, officers headed to La Casita Olvera after alarms went off. Both locations had surveillance video.

Fullerton police are also investigating three similar break-ins, and authorities confirm there were four smash and grabs in Hacienda Heights on Monday.

The investigations were ongoing.