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Pattaya Thai is among several businesses in Five Points grappling with the aftermath of recent break-ins. While authorities work to solve the crimes, business owners are faced with repair costs that surpass the value of items stolen.
Multiple small businesses in the Five Points area are currently recovering from a series of break-ins that have left the community on edge.
As law enforcement continues its investigation, some business owners emphasize that the real issue is not the theft itself, but the financial burden of repairing the damage inflicted.
Russell Clayton, who has operated Pattaya Thai in the Five Points neighborhood with his family for over ten years, experienced a break-in at his restaurant during the early hours of October 13th.
“It was more shock than anything else,” Clayton explained. “A friend who works next door called me when he noticed a police officer outside and a shattered window.”
Clayton said the burglar only took $5 from the register but repairs to their door cost more than $400.
“What we do is we leave our register drawers open because at a previous location people would come and steal the register and bash it,” he said, “if you wanna try to break in and you’re hungry. Just stop by and try to talk to me and I’ll make you some food. You don’t have to break or steal from anybody.”
Just 30 minutes after the break in at Pattaya Thai
Sake House, another restaurant down the street, also hit. Workers there showed First Coast News the cinder block thrown through their front door and the suspect took the entire register.
Then over the weekend, Brew Five Points coffee shop, joined the list of victims.
In an October 18th Instagram post, the shop wrote: “In all of 11 years there is a first time for everything. Our store got broken into causing $3,000 of property damage to our little shop.”
Despite the losses, business owners say what’s keeping them going is the community support.
“Best thing we can do as a community is help each other out in times like this,” said Clayton.
The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office is currently investigating these break-ins.
If you have any information about these burglaries, you can contact JSO at 904-630-0500.
According to Clayton, police told him they caught the suspect who broke into his restaurant. We have reached out to JSO for more information but have yet not heard back.
