A shop owner has left thieves out of luck thanks to a unique system he designed to prevent criminals from looting his business.
An attempted midnight break-in last week could have devastated California store owner Robert Gonzalez, but he was already just a few steps away from the thieves.
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Footage from December 30 shows criminals in two cars heading to DripOnDrip, Gonzalez's store in Fresno, at around 3 a.m.
After a car passed in front of the store, a number of people got out of the vehicles and ran into the shoe store.
However, the thieves were seen looking around in confusion and leaving the store just 30 seconds after realizing there was nothing to steal.
“If they had looked through the window, they could have saved themselves some time and energy from even trying to break in,” Gonzalez told local NBC outlet KSEE.
“They would have noticed that there was nothing here on Earth for them to take.”
Gonzalez was ready to break in after being robbed elsewhere a year earlier.
He now protects his business from thieves by clearing the floor and leaving the cash register open next to the window to show it is empty every night.
However, the thieves continued on Monday, only to find the store without any merchandise of value.
Additionally, Gonzalez leaves a wall of right-footed boots at night.
“There's no value once you take that shoe,” Gonzalez said.
“I mean you can't buy a shoe for your left foot online either.
“So you will not be able to use the item or even resell it.
“It doesn't make sense.”
The thieves took some backpacks and two well-fitting shoes, Gonzalez said.
“If they had looked through the window, they would have saved themselves some time and energy from even trying to break in.”
Robert Gonzalez
The store owner said he's grateful his plan worked and that his store remains open.
However, it was still disturbing to see thieves breaking into his store.
“Seeing the building you work in almost every day…take damage,” Gonzalez said.
“It's shocking.”
Police responded to the scene once the store's alarm went off.
The broken windows were quickly sealed, allowing business to continue as usual on Monday.
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