Marin County Business Storefront Torn Off In Burglary

NOVATO, CA — A Novato tobacco store was burglarized early Saturday morning after four hooded people tied a chain to the storefront and then, using a car, ripped it off the wall, according to security camera footage from inside the store.

Hank Do, the owner of Specialty Tobacco Outlet located at 925 Diablo Ave., shared security footage of the burglary with Patch but asked it not be published. The security footage showed a dark colored Lexus back up in front of the store and then one hooded individual gets out and appears to secure a chain or rope to the storefront. Then after the individual clears away the Lexus floors it and rips the windows and storefront off the wall in a violent explosion.

The four hooded individuals entered the store and began grabbing cartons of cigarettes, according to Do and the footage.

Do told Patch they got away with at least $8,000 worth of cigarettes despite police arriving within minutes. Do said police told him when they arrived the four suspects were back in the Lexus and sped away at such a high speed that they did not give chase.

This is not the first time this has happened. In September 2024, Do confirmed the store was burglarized in a similar way. At 3 a.m. on September 28, 2024, a car smashed into the storefront in order to break in and steal tobacco products, A Novato Police Department press release stated.

Jeremy Vernchan Fong, 26, of Oakland was arrested on suspicion of evading police, burglary, hit-and-run driving, conspiracy, vehicle theft and vandalism for his involvement in the September 2024 burglary. He was booked into the Marin County Jail, where his bail amount was set at $70,000, according to an NPD press release.

Do told Patch it cost him roughly $20,000 to replace the storefront that time and expects it to be around the same again.

Despite having his store robbed twice, Do's attitude appears nonchalant.

“It’s a sign of the times,” Do told Patch. “They’re breaking in everywhere, whether it’s a tobacco store or a camera store or whatever store they think they can get in. They just want quick money.”

The Novato Police Department has not responded for comment or released any information on this incident at this time.