Business owners were on alert after a robber who a saw to cut a tunnel through a pet store next to a bakery in San Clemente.
The thief was caught on surveillance video on Tuesday around 3 a.m. cutting through a wall from inside a pet store to gain entry into the bakery on the other side. Once the suspect removed the piece of wall, he could be seen walking to the cash register and prying it open with a crowbar to remove cash.
Melanie Hohman, owner of Sensitive Sweets, the bakery that was burglarized, said she was surprised the thief was able to fit through the hole he cut.
"In looking at the way he cut it, he had to have used like a saw from the other side because it was cleanly cut. He knew what he was doing," she said.
The thief left behind his footprint, one of several clues.
A nearby business owner said the robbery on Tuesday was similar to a burglary that occurred about two years ago when a thief made a tunnel into three stores.
Hohman plans to keep an eye out for the robber if she ever sees him.
"I know his shoes. I know his jacket. Come winter time, I'm going to get this guy."