Colfax Shop Ransacked By Thieves Who Swipe Owner's Safe, Gold

COLFAX (CBS13) — The owner of a mom-and-pop store in Colfax says burglars tore his place apart, stealing everything they could carry, including a heavy safe with all of his money and gold.

The thieves likely used a crowbar to pry the front door open, and when they got in, Brian Garcia says they really went to work on his business. In one display case they broke, a nearly assembled rifle was taken from the case.

"I'm just a small potatoes here, old mom-and-pop type thing, and just trying to make it work," he said.

Now the owner is Ammo, Camo and Bait on Main Street is taking stock of what's left after his gun parts, ammo and knives were targeted.

"I was beside myself; frustrated, upset stomach, just like, are you kidding me?" he said.

To make matters worse, the crooks disabled his surveillance system, and Garcia says his alarm system didn't work either during Sunday's break-in.

The thieves were even able to take his safe that had hundreds of dollars and his gold.

"I had it bolted to the wall here and they were able to—it was a heavy safe too, so I'm thinking it was a couple people," he said.

Friends that he's made in the 25 years he's lived in the quiet mountain town are showing up to help.

Lili Dreik says it's the least she can do, especially around the holidays.

"I'm here to lift his spirits and help clean up and redecorate," she said. "The brazenness, coming to right in the middle of town! The police station's one block away."

At least Garcia knows he's not going through this alone.

"That's warming my heart, and it's making it a lot easier to handle," he said.

Placer County Sheriff's investigators say no witnesses come forward, and there are no suspects or vehicle description.