Asian Restaurants Targeted in Burglaries

Oak Creek police are investigating a string of burglaries that include incidents at three Asian restaurants.

Panda Gourmet, Lotus and Yen Hwa Chinese Restaurant were broken into in a two-night span May 11 and 12.

Police are also investigating burglaries at a pair of businesses on Drexel Avenue near Howell—CR Electric, 330 W. Drexel Ave., and Roth Heating, 400 W. Drexel Ave.—that happened the same weekend.

According to the Oak Creek Police Department logbook:

Panda Gourmet, 8880 S. Howell Ave., and Lotus, 9011 S. Howell Ave., were burglarized after closing about 10 p.m. May 11. Employees at each business discovered hundreds of dollars missing from cash registers. It's believed doors were forced open in each incident.

Cash was also stolen from a register at Prodigy Salons, in the same building as Panda Gourmet. Police believe the person responsible made entry through a rear door in a hallway shared with Panda Gourmet.

The following night, someone attempted to enter Yen Hwa Chinese Restaurant, 2345 W. Ryan Road, but appeared to be scared off by an alarm that went off about 11:30 p.m.

Following that incident, Oak Creek police ordered patrol watches on Asian restaurants in the city and also notified Franklin and South Milwaukee police.

Two other businesses were burglarized the same weekend. Nothing was taken at CR Electric, though the door was pried open and damaged. Two cameras were stolen from Roth Heating.

Police continue to investigate the burglaries. No arrests or suspects were indicated in police reports.