Thieves hit Eugene businesses on Christmas night
EUGENE, Ore. - Midtown Marketplace in downtown Eugene is usually packed on Saturday mornings. However, customers hoping to come by for their caffeine fix were turned away Dec. 26.
That's because the cafe was a crime scene.
Late Christmas night, thieves broke in. According to Midtown managers, the thieves stole money and computer equipment.
"It's bad for business as well," said coffee shop manager, Jason Huntington. "There is more to it then just stuff being taken."
Police spent hours on the scene searching for evidence. Worse yet, Midtown wasn't alone.
Thieves also hit the McDonald's on West 6th Avenue and Garfield Street. Police said burglars also managed to steal an entire ATM from the store. Police found that machine a few hours later.
Lieutenant Scott Fellman with the Eugene police tells KVAL there were at least five business-targeted burglaries Christmas night alone.
"It's too early to say if they are all connected," Fellman said. "It does look like a couple of them might be."
Dwight Collins is the owner of Newman's Fish Co. He said the same thing happened to his Coburg road location last week.
"It really hits you in the gut," said Collins. "Every night I go to bed and I make sure it's secure ... I get there in the morning and am thankful the doors are all locked when I get to work."
Fellman said police should have a better idea of exactly how many burglaries there were as people return from vacation. At this point business owners who have been hit say they just want others to beware.
