Thief crashes pickup truck into Hesperia business and steals over $10,000 in discounted tools.

HESPERIA, Calif. (KABC) — A pair of thieves used a pickup truck to drive into a Hesperia roll-up garage door and steal more than $10,000 in discounted tools.

Fabiola Diaz, owner of 760 Discount Tools in Hesperia, said she received a notification on her phone about 3 a.m. Saturday notifying her of the Ring surveillance camera activity.

She called 911, but could only watch helplessly on video as the thieves ransacked her store until police arrived.

“Honestly, my heart sank,” Diaz said. “This is years of hard work, not just for myself, but also for my family. We are a family-run business and sometimes work seven days a week.

“I didn’t know what to think. My mind went blank.”

Diaz said he has stopped counting how many break-ins his company has had. She estimates there have been at least 17 different attempts over the past two years. Between high inflation and a surge in property theft over the past few years, it has become especially difficult for business owners, she said.

“We just keep going. Really, that’s all we can do. Especially as a small business, like a lot of small businesses, not just in my industry but overall, over the last few years we’ve has put in a lot of effort. We’ve had hits not only for theft but other things as well.”

Not only is it expensive to repair damage and replace inventory, but she worries about all the workers in the high desert who make a living from discounted products.

“Sometimes they can’t afford to go to the hardware store and spend $10,000 or $15,000, so they come here to save that money because they can get 30% to 60% off on each item. ”

The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department confirmed it is investigating the incident. The suspect vehicle is believed to be a dark-colored Chevrolet Silverado. They are awaiting further surveillance video from nearby businesses.