Manhattan Beach Business Burglarized; 3 Suspects Sought

MANHATTAN BEACH, CA -- Police on Thursday sought the help of the public to find three suspected burglars who broke into a Manhattan Beach business and took a cell phone from an employee who was trying to document their getaway.

The incident happened around 4:20 a.m. Wednesday at The Cofee Bean & Tea Leaf at 1500 Rosecrans Ave., Manhattan Beach police Officer Kristie Colombo said.

A female employee, who was opening up the store for business, interrupted the burglary in progress, she said.

"Two masked suspects used a sledgehammer and broke the glass door to the north side of the business," Colombo said. "Once inside the business, the suspects kicked the office door to gain access and attempted to remove the safe."

As the suspects were leaving the store, they spotted the employee outside holding her cell phone possibly to take photos or film the suspects, she said.

One of the suspects ran to the employee who was walking away from the business and "punched her in the face causing her to fall to the ground," Colombo said.

The suspect took her cell phone, and both suspects ran to a getaway vehicle occupied by a driver, and it sped off. The vehicle was described as a dark four-door SUV. No descriptions were available of the suspects, all three of whom wore masks and/or hoodies and had their hands covered.

The employee was treated at a hospital for a head injury and released. Aside from the employee's cell phone, nothing appeared to have been stolen from the business, Colombo said.

Anyone with information on the case was urged to call Manhattan Beach police at (310) 802-5171.

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