NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — Surveillance cameras at a Norfolk business captured another burglary in progress.
On May 1 and May 3, officers were called again to SBL Headwear & Socks, located at 2932 E. Virginia Beach Blvd., to investigate a theft from the business.
During the investigation, detectives obtained security footage which they say shows a man entering the store around 3:30 a.m. Wednesday and 6:30 a.m. Friday. The short video clip police released to the public shows the man moving quickly through the store, grabbing as much merchandise as he could hold.
Brothers Elmer Shannon and Peter Olanitori are at their wit’s end.
“We have no clue who these guys are or why they’re even doing it other than to get them some money,” Olanitori said.
The pair who own SBL told 10 On Your Side that in two years, they’ve lost more than $20,000 in merchandise to burglars. After last week, they’ve installed metal bars on their windows and more cameras and motion detectors outside their storefront.
“To have this keep happening repeatedly, over and over and over again, it puts stress on our family,” Shannon said. “It puts stress on the people around us that call us and say, ‘hey, we’ve seen you guys get broken into again, what’s going on?’ I’m sure insurance companies are tired of us calling. We can only hope that at this point, it can just stop and allow us to be that bright shining light in a community that we’re supposed to be.”
10 On Your Side has reported on previous break-ins at this same business, as recently as this February. Police released surveillance video of that incident, which showed the suspect in that case climbing through a window to gain access. He exited the same way.
WAVY also spoke with Olanitori back in 2022, after a string of five separate break-ins over a period of two weeks at his business. At the time, he expressed frustration that the security cameras and motion detectors did not deter the criminals.
If you have any information about this latest commercial burglaries, contact the Norfolk Crime Line at 1-888-LOCK-U-UP or submit an anonymous tip using the P3Tips mobile app.
