Surveillance video shows Malden store vandalized and looted

MALDEN, Mass. — A Malden storefront was smashed and thousands of dollars in merchandise was stolen early Monday morning as crowds of people vandalized and looted Boston stores following earlier peaceful protests.

Surveillance video shows a group of at least a dozen people outside the Lebanon Street store shortly after midnight, when one of them throws a chunk of asphalt through the glass door.

As they try to break in, a security alarm sounds, sending the group running. Gabriel Toribio and Jezmani Kraus, owners of Laa Tiendaa, received the security alert and rushed to their store.

After boarding up the door, Toribio and Kraus removed as many valuables as possible and returned home, hoping they had protected their business from the looting they had seen happening in Boston Sunday night into Monday morning.

But shortly before 4 a.m., a few people returned, prying back the boards, breaking through a gate and finally entering the store. The video shows the thieves rummaging through the shop that sells clothing, sneakers and consignment items. They grab as many items as they can carry before fleeing.

The business partners were disappointed to find their store broken and bare. They estimate the physical damage and stolen goods to be between $8,000 and $10,000.

"I did see all different sneaker shops getting hit," Kraus said. "So I kind of had a feeling something weird was going to happen here. But it just sucks."

The break-in was apparently an isolated incident in the city. Toribio and Kraus filed a police report and said Malden detectives are working on the case.

The pair, who are both Dominican, are just 20 years old and long-time friends. They support the peaceful protests against police brutality and racism, but said seeing violence and destruction is disheartening.

"It's just very sad that somebody would take a sensitive event and use it for their own personal, malicious intent," Toribio said.

This time has already been difficult for Laa Tiendaa as sales have plummeted due to the coronavirus shut-down. The owners have tried to supplement sales by using curbside pick-up, but business has not been steady.

Now, with the break-in and the need for a new security system, they are unsure when they will be able to reopen.

But within just two days, supporters raised more than $5,000 through a GoFundMe account to help them get back on their feet.

Toribio and Kraus plan to use any extra funds to give back to the community.

“We had friends donating 10 bucks, 20 bucks, all the way up to 750 bucks, for us to stay here, donating sneakers for us to stay here,” Toribio said in tears. “It’s crazy to have the support. And it’s amazing, it’s beautiful, to have our friends and family start something. It’s for us and our community, and we’re going to give it back as much as possible.”

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