Robbery Crew Blitzes Lafayette’s Panache Cafe
A crew of thieves raided the popular Panache Cafe in Lafayette at approximately 5 a.m. Thursday while the owner took refuge inside her store armed with a baseball bat, the thieves wrenching a safe off its base and making off with money and other items despite triggering a business alarm.
News of the blitz-style robbery, hallmarked by the presence of up to six masked thieves who strike quickly and violently, has rippled through the small town despite the lack of information from police and contracting sheriff’s agency.
Apple Sampaeng, the cafe’s owner, said she was first aware she was being robbed when the front glass door of her store at 3653 Mt. Diablo Boulevard shattered as she was opening for business and she ran to a location within the store to hide, the thieves apparently unaware she was still inside while they ransacked the business, taking money and electronics and walking past her hiding spot.
Apple spent Friday repairing the damage to her business and hopes to re-open for business Saturday.
Readers contacting News24/680 are talking of organizing a fundraising effort on behalf of the owner and her popular shop.
Readers/business people in Walnut Creek are also reporting additional crimes in their city Thursday, one in the 1500 block of Locust and another in the 1500 block of Bonanza. We’re told these businesses were also attacked by people with window smashers and crowbars but that there is no known connection between them and the theft at Panache.
On Friday, Lafayette police posted news of the break-in at Panache as well as one on Wednesday morning when officers were dispatched to the 3500 block of Golden Gate Way after workers from the business discovered damage to the door. Officers searched the interior of the business, but did not locate any suspects. Employees confirmed that a cash register containing cash had been stolen.
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Frightening
Damn we love that place, hopefully insurance can help out
Yes. We’re fans of independent small businesses with flair and send our folks there when they’re in need of a place to file a story or send in photos. Hoping she gets the cafe back up and running, soon, and glad she’s all right.
Haven’t written this in awhile……………… Yee haw, yippie ki yay, It’s The Wild West Out There. Hoping LEO’s find them quickly.
In SF, the Public Defender is forcing non-prosecutions by turning away new cases, this is a new tactic.
Firestone 11R
Okay, we’ll allow you one Yippie…
Thank you good sir.
West Hollywood 91R
You need a new act.
I think the “tunnel rats” are at it again!
Hopefully Lafayette’s cameras will expose them. I’m sure they’ve been there before and cased the place.
We set up a GoFundMe to help the owner pay for expenses from
this awful burglary like replacing the door and computers, as well
as making up for lost income from being closed. If you can, please donate here: https://gofund.me/2c7a8d228
salve for the wound and food for the soul
According to OpenJustice.org Lafayette PD clearance rates for burglary were 11.5% in 2024. Not sure what the DA can do about that.
Why bother when the DA won’t prosecute.
Firestone 11R
Out ahead of the pack again News24… thanks for the alerts.
Unfortunately caught up in the periodic crime sprees this site has identified in recent years.
Did they catch them???
I’ve been in several times since to try to help out. Support local business!!!