Surveillance camera captures Fresno liquor store burglary

FRESNO, Calif. -- Fresno police are searching for a group of burglars caught smiling on surveillance video while clearing out a local store.

The crime happened at Andre's Liquor and Mini Mart near Blackstone and Dakota just after 6 a.m. Saturday.

First, tiles and insulation start falling from the ceiling. Then a pair of shoes appear from the crawl space. It isn't your friendly neighborhood Santa but a group of reckless criminals stealing from a local liquor store.

Grupal Singh Nagra owns Andre's Liquor and Mini Mart. He says this is the second time in weeks they've been burglarized. But this time they had cameras rolling, and the thieves are seen grinning from ear to ear, stuffing their pockets with whatever they can grab.

"They make me angry, upset. They take 10 minutes in the store, stealing things and laughing," said Nagra.

In the video, the suspects broke in through tiles and crashed through the roof. But they weren't looking for cash. In fact, they walked right past a cash register and grabbed lotto tickets, cigarettes and liquor.

Nagra got the call from his alarm company and hurried to his store. He was in the parking lot as the suspects were wrapping up inside.

He says once the thieves got all the loot they wanted, they climbed out of the store and used a ladder to get down. But Nagra didn't stop them out of fear for his life.

"Scary, they look scary," he said. "I think maybe he have a gun, and that's why I don't want to talk to him."

Police arrived shortly after the thieves left, Nagra says, and are still searching for the people involved in this crime.

If you recognize any of the suspects in the video, you're asked to call Fresno police at (559) 621-7000.