Police are trying to identify the two men who broke into a Meriden restaurant early on the morning of St. Patrick’s Day and stole an ATM and a floor-mounted safe that contained nearly $30,000.
Police said the two men pried open the side door of the Caribbean Restaurant at 311 Center St. just before 3:30 a.m., stole the ATM and a floor-mounted safe reported to contain $29,000 and wheeled them out on a hand-truck, police said.
The owner of the restaurant said his family was saving the cash for a house they are building in Puerto Rico. German Rosario, of Meriden, said the money was at the restaurant rather than a bank because he’d been away and has not had the chance to deposit it.
“My wife was saving the money so that when I came back, I’d deposit it,” he said.
The thieves loaded the ATM and safe into a silver or light colored SUV, police said.
Meriden police don’t know if the thefts were random or whether the restaurant was targeted because of the large amount of money inside, but hope someone will come forward and identify the people responsible.
“You work all your life all your money and in one second they take your money,” Rosario said. “I hope they catch them. I work hard for this.”
Anyone with information should call Detective Robison at 203-630-6267 or email jrobison@meridenct.gov.
