Man Left Restaurant Without Paying, Then Broke in and Vandalized It: ‘It Looked Like a Blood Bath,’ Owners Say

In a troubling incident at Playa Hermosa Fish & Oyster Co. in Hermosa Beach, California, a customer has been arrested for both dining and dashing, followed by a subsequent act of vandalism that the owners describe as devastating. Lisa Hemmat and Levi Lupercio, who have owned the establishment since 2017, were alerted to the situation early on the morning of April 29 when a neighbour informed them that a man was breaking into their restaurant.

Hemmat recounted the shock of receiving multiple calls from their neighbour, who told her that someone was “destroying” the restaurant. When she and her husband arrived at the scene, they found extensive damage, with the front glass door smashed in and the interior in disarray. “It looked like a bloodbath with all the wine bottles shattered against the wall,” said Hemmat, highlighting just how extensive the destruction was.

According to the owners, the suspect had initially visited the restaurant about a week and a half prior, amassing a bill of approximately £130 (or $160) for a seafood tower among other items. After claiming he needed to fetch his wallet from his car, he fled the establishment without settling his bill. Although the couple reported the matter to the police, no action was taken at that time as they opted not to press charges.

Just days later, the suspect returned to the restaurant, where he was caught on surveillance footage throwing a chair at the front door and consuming alcohol from the bar. The prompt arrival of the Hermosa Beach Police, who had been alerted to the situation, resulted in his arrest, and he now faces charges of burglary and felony vandalism.

The chaos led to a significant clean-up effort for the owners, who are still calculating the full extent of the damages. “It appears to be quite a bit of expensive wines and liquors, along with our entire back bar, the floor, and walls,” expressed Lupercio. In addition to the interior damage, the suspect also caused havoc outdoors, wrecking patio furniture and heat lamps, worsening the overall cost of the incident.

The impact of the vandalism extends beyond physical damage, as the restaurant has lost valuable business during a critical weekend. The BeachLife Festival, a large local event, was approaching, yet Playa Hermosa was operating with a temporary wooden door and an unusable bar. “We’re trying to get it back together and reopen,” said Hemmat.

While the restaurant owners worked to recover from this traumatic experience, they expressed frustration with the police’s handling of the previous incident involving the suspect. Hemmat recalled how they learned from the police that this individual had a history of similar offences across multiple restaurants. “Why didn’t they inform other establishments along the pier that this person had committed such acts? It’s infuriating,” she remarked.

Raising concerns about safety for local businesses, Hemmat reflected on the broader implications of such incidents in Hermosa Beach. She described it as a once family-friendly area that now seems to be struggling with recurring issues of public safety. “It’s a slippery slope that needs to be stopped right now,” she said, conveying her hopes that local authorities would take greater action to ensure the safety of both residents and visitors.

The couple’s appeal for accountability underscores a growing sentiment among business owners in the area who are eager to restore a secure environment for their patrons. They believe it is crucial for local law enforcement to proactively share information about known offenders to prevent similar situations from occurring in the future.

As Playa Hermosa Fish & Oyster Co. begins the recovery process, the incident serves as a poignant reminder of the challenges faced by small businesses amid rising concerns of safety in community spaces. As the couple looks to rebuild both their restaurant and their spirits, they hope their experience fosters a more collaborative approach to public safety in Hermosa Beach.