Several businesses at Jacksonville's beaches targeted in smash-and-grab crimes

The owner of Parsons Seafood Restaurant got an unexpected wake-up call from police at 5:45 a.m. Tuesday.

His business had been hit in a smash-and-grab burglary.

“There was glass everywhere, register paper, printers all outside the front door,” owner Michael Parsons said.

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He said the thieves used a brick to break the glass and then tore the shatterproof glass out. They took off with his register.

"About $120, yeah it didn't get much. A lot of trouble for nothing," Parsons said.

Just last week, we told you Tomo Japanese Restaurant was hit and in similar fashion. The owner said a piece of concrete was used to shatter the eatery's glass door.

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“They took the register,” owner Al Chanthalack said, adding they also grabbed two bottles of liquor.

The owner says he also heard Whiskey Jax was hit.

We went there and once again heard a similar story.

"My morning prep lady came in and called and said, "Hey did you break the front door?" and I said no. And someone through a brick through it," Whiskey Jax owner Tom Fisher said.

In this case, the thieves stole a safe.

Action News Jax crime and safety expert Ken Jefferson says in cases like this, the thieves may keep targeting small businesses that might keep money onsite overnight.

The business owners who became victims say they have upped their security and have a request for authorities.

"It's so frustrating. I mean I can't stand thieves. If they can catch them, make them go to jail, make an example out of them," said Fisher.

Cox Media Group