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Detroit coffee shop becomes break-in target for the second time in a year

Detroit coffee shop becomes break-in target for the second time in a year
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DETROIT (WXYZ) — A Detroit coffee shop owner is expressing frustration after his business was broken into Friday morning. It marks the second time the business has been the target of a break-in within the last year.

Morningside Cafe on East Warren Avenue was broken into around 6:30 a.m.

Watch the video report below:

Detroit coffee shop becomes break-in target for the second time in a year

Surveillance video shows a person breaking into the cafe, stealing the business' cash register and kicking in a storage closet, among other damage.

"I was shocked. We had a recent incident not too long ago where a couple guys tried to break in, but for someone to actually be inside and actually cause some damage to our establishment, I was beyond mad. Here we go once again, unfortunately," said Jeffrey Lewis II, the owner of Morningside Cafe.

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Lewis expects the incident will cost him more than $15,000.

"All the cables attached to it, the entire system is completely damaged," Lewis said, referring to the point-of-sale system.

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Due to not being able to take payments, Morningside Cafe is closed indefinitely. The coffee shop has worked to become a community hub since opening in 2023.

"We've been a community hub for the entire community of Morningside and the surrounding neighborhoods. We see a lot of different people every single day. People look forward to coming here," Lewis said.

However, the repeated targeting of his business has left Lewis with a lot of questions.

"When you try to do a business in your neighborhood and you have situations like this occur, it really makes you second guess if it's all really worth it or not," he said.

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Lewis said he doesn't understand why these incidents keep occurring.

"It's mind boggling to me," he said.

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But he wants the latest thief to know that the crime affects more than just his business; it also impacts the community.

"Because they don't have a place to congregate, they don't have place to do business, they don't have a place to sit down and have a quality cup of coffee and have those conversations," Lewis said.

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The Detroit Police Department is investigating the break-in. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact 313-596-5540 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-SPEAK-UP.