Thieves take $200 in smash-and-grab burglary at The French Pantry in Jacksonville

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Popular Southside lunch spot The French Pantry was broken into this week for the second time in three months.

Employees arrived at the restaurant early Monday morning and one of them noticed that the side glass door had been smashed out, according to a Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office report.

Police and the restaurant manager arrived and saw that the hole in the door was large enough for a person to fit through.

Two drawers in the cash register were stolen, containing $100 each. The officer saw a bent butter knife that they believe was used to pry open the manager’s office, the report said.

It appeared that the suspect tried to gain entry into a filing cabinet inside the office, as there were footprints on it and the top drawer was damaged.

A ceiling tile that had been pried off by the suspect was found on the ground, the report said.

The manager told police that the restaurant is closed Sundays. Bakers were working at the restaurant until 1:30 p.m., but a cleaning crew was still there.

The manager said the cleaning crew always locks the business when they are done, and they have been cleaning the restaurant for a long time.

In October, the restaurant was burglarized in a similar manner. According to a JSO report, the front door was smashed open and two drawers in the cash register containing $100 each were taken.

Action News Jax spoke to an employee who said they are working to upgrade their security system.

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