WALNUT CREEK, Calif. (KRON) — The owners of a Mexican gift shop are worried they were the victims of a hate crime. Someone vandalized the business, and it was the only store on the block that was hit.
Speaking with KRON4, owner Erika Pantoja pointed to the wooden board, replacing the window to her business that was shattered early Saturday morning. “All the glass was broken — everything. You know, all over,” Pantoja said.
The door of Portal Artesanal has already been fixed, but it will take a little longer to repair the window. “It’s gonna cost about $3,000,” Pantoja said.
Surveillance video (above) shows a hooded suspect casually walking up to the Mexican gift shop on North Main Street in Walnut Creek. The suspect breaks the glass and then walks off without taking anything.
With recent protests against ICE raids in neighboring Concord and concerns in the immigrant community over deportations. Pantoja fears this was an act of hate against her Mexican heritage.
“That’s sad because we need to be, now, alert for something else or whatever that could happen,” she said.
Right now, this incident has been classified as a burglary. Police have not indicated whether or not it’s being investigated as a hate crime.
“I hope that the city, the community are able to see that we are, the Latino, Hispanic community are here, and then only want to make it for ourselves, for our families and also our communities,” Pantoja said.
This July will mark two years for Pantoja at this Walnut Creek store. She says this is the first time her business has been burglarized.
WALNUT CREEK, Calif. (KRON) — The owners of a Mexican gift shop are worried they were the victims of a hate crime. Someone vandalized the business, and it was the only store on the block that was hit. Speaking with KRON4, owner Erika Pantoja pointed to the wooden board, replacing the window to her business […]
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