SELDA with piping hot dish says she is struggling to stay alive and the robbery hurts. Photo by Tom Godfrey.
Some local thieves are preying on struggling Alderwood family-owned restaurants trying hard to earn a living.
Two restaurants on Horner Avenue have been broken into from July 7 to July 13 setting back the owners thousands of dollars from the theft of cash, food and damages.
SELDA of Leziz Kitchen is one of two Horner Avenue restaurants broken into in two weeks.
Police have not been able to identify the bandit from security video since he was wearing a hoodie and mask.
The man in a video is seen taking a rock and throwing it through a pane of glass that smashed to the floor.
The video shows the burglar entering the restaurant and running to the cash where he grabbed a small sum of cash from the register.
“It took less than a minute and he was in and out,” recalls a stunned Selda Oncel, who with husband Cenk, own Leziz Kitchen, at 418 Horner Avenue.
Oncel said the robbery cost her more than $1,200 out of their own pockets to replace the glass door. They also lost a small amount of cash from the register had to shut for a day as the door was repaired.
“We are a small business and its takes us a long time to earn that money,” she says.
SHATTERED GLASS from door being hit by large rock used by thief.
Oncel says the robbery occurred on July 7 at about 2 a.m. Cenk was working at the eatery and had left about 1 a.m.
“Someone was watching and broke into the place after he left,” she believes. “We are very disappointed by this. We are struggling and it was quite a big hit for us.”
The family were able to pay for the repair through a line of credit, as it was the same amount they would have to pay their insurance company.
Leziz Kitchen has been open for about two years and its Turkish Mediterranean cuisine has gained quite a following online in the community. They can be reached at 416-259-9838.
JODIE’S RESTAURANT on Horner Avenue was robbed of food, money and damages.
Another restaurant was robbed on Horner Avenue a week later.
“Our beloved family owned small business Jodie’s Restaurant was broken into yesterday,” wrote Molly-Sarah Roberts, of Jodie’s Restaurant, at 313 Horner Avenue. “An enormous amount of food, money and alcohol was stolen not to mention the damages to the property.”
The family is urging residents to support local and dine in or take out.
Jodie’s Restaurant can be reached at 416-255-5552.