Burglars steal safe from Barbarella restaurant

By Pat Sherman

A burglar broke into Barbarella restaurant at 2171 Avenida De La Playa in La Jolla Shores about 1 a.m. July 12, San Diego Police said.

The suspect is described as a white male with a medium build in his 30s or 40s. He was wearing a horizontal, striped polo shirt, dark pants, tennis shoes and baseball cap. He made off with a safe and wine, and damaged a cash register, wine cooler and other items, said the establishment’s owner, Barbara Beltaire.

The suspect, whose image was captured on one of Beltaire’s security cameras, also attempted to break into storage cages and refrigerators, though he was unsuccessful, she said.

Beltaire estimated the damage and theft to be about $8,000.

“He really messed up the place,” she said.

Beltaire said there is plenty of evidence to help police with their investigation, including a roller the suspect used to wheel out the safe, which was left behind.

Anyone with information about the burglary was urged to call San Diego Police at (858) 552-1700 or San Diego County Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477.