Irwindale Bike Shop Faces Possible Closure After $40,000 Burglary
IRWINDALE, Calif. – Irwindale Cycles, a beloved family-owned bike shop, may have to shut its doors for good after losing approximately $40,000 worth of inventory in a recent burglary. The break-in occurred on Monday around 1 a.m. at the store located on Arrow Highway, and the entire incident was captured on video surveillance.
The footage shows the daring thieves forcefully entering the shop by breaking the rear door and swiftly grabbing 17 high-quality bikes off the racks. Owner Norma Colindres expressed her frustration, stating, “They only chose the bikes of high quality, worth $1,800 and more.”
This unfortunate incident is not the first time that this popular family business has fallen victim to burglaries. Employee Jorge Sanchez shared, “Since 2008, it has happened a few times. One time, it happened while I was here, and it feels really bad. I feel bad for the owner because they really stress out about this.”
The stress induced by these recurring incidents stems from concerns about the ability to cover business expenses. Colindres explained, “Right now, to pay next month, of course, we’re going to have a little problem because some of the stuff we need to replace, but we don’t have money to replace all the stuff.”
The news of the potential closure of Irwindale Cycles struck a chord with customers and community members. Upon hearing the distressing news, they immediately rallied to offer support. As a result, friends of the Colindres family initiated a GoFundMe campaign with the goal of saving the store.
Colindres was deeply moved by the overwhelming support, stating, “I was really shocked and surprised. We’re here for so many years, so we know so many people. For me, I can’t say enough thanks. Even if it’s 25 cents, for me, it’s life.”
Authorities from the Los Angeles Police Department are actively investigating the burglary and are currently searching for three suspects. However, detailed descriptions of the perpetrators have not yet been released. The police urge anyone with information relating to the crime to come forward and contact the authorities.
In the face of this devastating setback, the Colindres family and the community remain hopeful that justice will be served, and Irwindale Cycles will be able to continue serving its loyal customers. The outpouring of support through the GoFundMe campaign has inspired optimism among the family and given them renewed hope for the future of their cherished business.