Shutterbug Camera burglarized again as Northern California camera shops targeted by thieves

Northern California camera stores have been the target of numerous “smash and grab” robberies in recent weeks, with Santa Rosa, Calif.-based Shutterbug Camera Shops being victimized twice. The shop was hit by an early-morning theft Friday, March 21, according to the Press Democrat. An estimated $100,000 worth of camera equipment was taken, according to Mike Paschke, the store’s owner and president. Shutterbug is one of the only remaining locally owned and independent camera stores in Santa Rosa. The first robbery was followed by a second on April 2.

The second robbery netted the large group of thieves, wielding crowbars to break into a back door, about $10,000 worth of merchandise, according to KRON 4 TV. In the March 21 break-in, a group slammed a stolen car through the front doors, shattered several display cases, and stole nearly $100,000 worth of camera equipment within minutes.

Shutterbug Camera’s owner Paschke told KRON4 that back-to-back burglaries nearly caused him to close up the 57-year-old shop forever. Community members have donated $14,000 through the GoFundMe page to help Shutterbug rebuild and recover. “It’s just been very emotional. Community support (has) really encouraged us to keep going and has helped,” Paschke said.

Shutterbug Camera isn’t the only Bay Area camera retailer targeted by thieves. According to KRON 4 TV, a San Rafael camera shop, Seawood Photo, which served as a hub for photographers since 1947, was ransacked by thieves who rammed a car through the front window and stole between $40,000-$50,000 in equipment on March 31. Seawood Photo also has a GoFundMe page.

Add to the tally the recent break-in at Looking Glass Photo in Berkeley, bringing the total to four major thefts in just two months.

“It does look similar,” said Graham Law, Seawood Photo president told KRON  4 TV. “Looking Glass in Berkeley, Shutterbug in Novato. There’s been probably six or seven other stores that have been hit the same way. Generally it’s between seven and 10 guys and they crash a car through the front and run in and they’re in and out in probably less than a minute.”

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