Tacoma convenience store burglary caught on camera

Tacoma police are looking for a man who was caught on camera breaking into a convenience store on two separate occasions last week. In both cases, the man stole thousands of dollars in cigarettes and wine, according to the owner of the store.

The first incident was reported at 76 on North Stevens Street last Sunday. In the video, a man is seen briefly scouting the gas station before bashing the door using a rock. The force was enough to knock over a wine rack in the store Lakhena Pon and her husband owned for nearly 30 years.

"I don't know what to say, I just feel awful," Pon said. "Why did this young man do this to us? I work hard every day with my husband, you know?"

Several days later, the same suspect returned to the convenience store in the middle of the night. Wednesday's surveillance video captured the man busting through the newly fixed door with another rock. He proceeds to steal most of the store's cigarettes.

"The second time, I was so mad at that guy," Pon said. "He broke my heart."

Tacoma police arrived within minutes and several K-9's tried to track the suspect. However, the dogs lost his scent a few blocks away, detectives said.

Pon is tired of feeling like her business is being targeted by a burglar, especially one who's still on the run.

"I just hope he's not coming back," she said. "I feel like when I get out of here and when I close, I don't feel safe anymore."

Investigators believe the suspect lives by the gas station. Tacoma police ask anyone that has information on the burglaries to give detectives a call.

Below is surveillance video of one of the burglaries.