For the second time this year, Ten Mile Brewing Company in Signal Hill was broken into.
A single burglar dressed in a ski mask and black hoodie threw a pry bar into the front door of the brewery and kitchen early Monday morning, shattering the glass before searching through the building.
The brewery’s alarm didn’t go off initially since the door was never opened, but as soon as the bandit stepped inside the brewery, motion sensors triggered a different alarm to the Signal Hill Police Department.
Signal Hill police received a call at 6:10 a.m. Monday about an alarm going off at Ten Mile Brewing Company, according to the Signal Hill Police Department. When officers arrived, the suspect had already fled the scene.
A previous burglary incident at Ten Mile in July saw three bandits attempt to break the front door with a crowbar before prying it open. They were able to remove a cash register which contained about $250.
Since the last incident, co-owner Dan Sundstrom said the location has gone fully cashless except for the employee tip jar, which was kept in a safe. Monday’s burglar made away with the safe which Sondstrom estimates contained about $600.
“I’m suspicious that he’s been there before because he knew right where to avoid the cameras on the outside and what little nooks and crannies to hide in,” Sundstrom said. “And when he did pass in front of the exterior cameras, [he] simply ran by real quickly, as if he was trying to avoid it.”
Video footage of the incident shows the burglar avoiding the cash registers and instead searching behind glassware, breaking about $50 worth of supplies before running off with the safe.
The door will cost about $3,000 to replace, Sundstrom said. He explained that after this most recent incident, the brewery is looking into added security measures, such as a steel sliding door that covers the entrance and windows or a gated sliding door to prevent break-ins.
Sundstrom said that multiple loyal customers have offered to sit in the parking lot and watch for future burglars.
“We’ve received literally hundreds of support messages on Facebook and Instagram and we love our community there … they’re super supportive and we’re gonna be open tomorrow like we usually are on Wednesdays,” Sundstrom said.
Ten Mile’s taproom location in Bellflower was also broken into earlier this month on Oct. 7. The lone burglar broke the window, climbed inside the storefront and made away with a safe. Sundstrom said the Bellflower location has also been cashless for months, so the safe had no money in it.
“I wish I could see their face when they get that [safe] open,” Sundstrom said. “One of our employees had been to Thailand and he bought a can of Pringles potato chips that was like a collectible one that you could only get in Thailand. He had put it in the safe … so they’re gonna find the can of Pringles in there.”
Spirits remain high at Ten Mile, as many new customers are flocking to the brewery after Sundstrom and his son took home a gold medal at the Great American Beer Festival for their “Hooked on Onyx” black IPA.
Those who have any information or tips regarding the burglary incident at Ten Mile should contact detective Andrew Lopez at 562.989.7217.
Great coverage!