GALT, CA (MPG) - The Galt Police Department is still looking for four individuals who hit four Galt businesses last week in a brazen string of burglaries.

The burglars struck Compadres Bar & Grill, Papas & Wings, Y2 Yan Chinese Food and Santa Cruz Taqueria during the early hours of Dec. 30. Each of the businesses had boarded up windows shortly following the break-ins. 

Galt Police Lt. Brian Azevedo said the cases are still under investigation. 

Jose “Tony” Gutierrez owns Compadres Bar & Grill and said the burglars damaged his restaurant’s front door to enter the premises but couldn’t get through. They then were able to smash in a window behind the restaurant before rummaging through the premises. 

Gutierrez also owns Compadres Market on C Street and said while his restaurant has never experienced a break-in before, it’s not an uncommon story for other businesses in the area. 

“It has been going on every single year,” Gutierrez said. “Last year they broke into a lot of businesses over here.”  

Gutierrez said the burglars broke into the space by smashing the back doors and windows before rummaging through the space. He said they couldn’t grab anything of real value in the break-in, but the damage to the door could have exceeded $2,000. 

“They only took some change from the cashier machine, and like two bottles of tequila,” he said. 

He said he previously took precautions at Compadres Market by placing wrought iron bars behind his windows to prevent burglars from being able to climb into the business if someone breaks out his windows. 

“We are the ones who have to protect our businesses,” he said.

The owners or managers of the other afflicted restaurants, Papas & Wings, Y2 Yan Chinese Food and Santa Cruz Taqueria could not be reached for comment. 

Gutierrez said he is unsure of the status of the investigation into the break-ins. 

According to the Galt Police Department’s Facebook page, the suspects, who were caught on surveillance video wearing hooded baggy clothing, arrived in a silver-colored SUV, believed to be a 2016-2018 model Acura RDX. No visible license plates were shown.

Galt Police Lt. John Rocha told KCRA 3 that events like last week’s string of burglaries were “never a good thing.” 

“I mean, it affects our local business owners and the community,” he told KCRA 3. “It costs money to repair the locations and at the same time any losses incurred: They have to deal with that.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Galt Police Department’s detective unit at 209-336-7010. Individuals providing information can remain anonymous.