LACEY, Wash. — In the days following a series of break-ins and vandalism at the Lacey Food Truck Depot, community members are supporting the impacted businesses.
“Thank you so much to the community,” said Oscar Alvarez, owner of Mi Pueblo, one of four food trucks that suffered damage Tuesday morning.
He said business has picked up since Tuesday when Lacey police say a 16-year-old boy and his 17-year-old friend broke into Alvarez’s truck, as well as three neighboring trucks in the vacant lot that’s been turned into an outdoor food court.
Bobablastic, Jerk an’ Tingz, Meggie’s Lumpia and The Coffee Bean drive-thru down the street were all broken into, according to Lacey Police Department detectives.
"I've gotten a lot of messages from a lot of the regulars," said Jose Pineda, owner of Bobablastic, "'Can we come and help clean up? And them come and get a couple of drinks."
In some of the break-ins, the teens stole cash and food items.
Detectives said surveillance video from inside and around the trucks helped identify the teens, but they were also tipped off by some unique evidence. Investigators said one of the boys had more than a dozen glass Mexican Coca-Cola bottles in his backpack, one of Mi Pueblo's best-selling items.
The two boys have been charged in juvenile court with burglary and malicious mischief.
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