In a striking turn of events in San Bernardino, California, an arcade owner is taking drastic measures after local law enforcement was unable to assist following a burglary at his business. Will Luna, the proprietor of Extraordinaire Arcade, faced a devastating blow just before the Thanksgiving holiday when he discovered his establishment had been looted.
Arcade Ransacked Before Thanksgiving
The incident unfolded on the Wednesday night prior to Thanksgiving, shortly after Luna had closed the arcade for the holiday. Reports indicate that a female accomplice had been hiding in the attic of the arcade and facilitated the entrance of her partners in crime, leading to a thorough ransacking of the establishment. Items taken included everything from games to fixtures, notably a four-player X-Men arcade cabinet, among other valuable assets.
“They were just in there, in and out. They had a free-for-all,” Luna recounted in a statement to the New York Post. The aftermath revealed significant destruction, including the apparent removal of circuit boards from gaming machines and the theft of critical equipment, including surveillance cameras, cash registers, and snacks.
Luna’s Bold Search for Stolen Property
Determined not to accept defeat, Luna sought help from the community and was tipped off by a homeless individual about a possible sighting of his arcade cabinet in a nearby encampment. With no assistance from the police, who cited restrictions regarding searches in homeless camps, Luna took matters into his own hands.
“I just went through all their tents. I started knocking that stuff down,” he declared. “I was ripping all the tents up. And I started finding my stuff.” While widely reported that he was on his own, police did provide some support by allowing Luna to search the area, despite their inability to engage in any active searches themselves. “They said, ‘We can’t go inside, but you can,’” he explained.
Recovery and Continuing Struggles
Throughout his search, Luna was able to recover some circuit boards, accessories, and snacks; however, the most significant losses, including game consoles like the PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, and the cherished X-Men arcade cabinet, remained missing.
This incident did not solely impact Luna’s arcade. Nearby businesses also fell victim to the crime spree, with reports of a malicious attack on a neighboring salon, where thieves not only stole cash but also set a fire and vandalized the facility.
Financial and Emotional Toll
Luna has expressed feeling deeply violated by the events, estimating total damages to be approximately $12,000. As he grapples with the aftermath, the situation reflects broader concerns about safety and community support in the face of rising crime.
For more detailed coverage of this incident and the ongoing discussion surrounding business safety in San Bernardino, please refer to the original source.
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