A male suspect broke a front window and burglarized Urban Pet. (photo by Edwin Folven)

A male suspect smashed a front window and burglarized The Urban Pet store at 7515 Beverly Blvd. on Aug. 1.

Owner Zack Grey said the break-in occurred around 4:40 a.m. Saturday. Security camera footage shows a man wearing a light-colored hooded sweatshirt, a backpack and carrying a flashlight walking through the store, searching around the cash register and checking shelves and drawers. Grey said the suspect’s behavior appeared casual.

“There was something very suspicious about him. He wasn’t in a hurry. It was almost like he knew the place,” Grey said. “He made his way to the back of the store. By this time, the alarm was going off, but he didn’t show any sense of urgency.”

The suspect located and disabled the security system around two minutes later and then went straight for a safe, which Grey admitted may have accidentally been left open. He said the loss amounted to a “couple thousand dollars” plus damage to the front window. He plans to increase security, but isn’t sure how much it will help. The Aug. 1 burglary was the third break-in at the store over the years.

“I’ve had smash-and-grabs before – I’ve been here 19 years – and usually they smash a window and are in and out of here in 15 seconds. This guy took some time in there. He seemed very comfortable with what he was doing. [The LAPD] fingerprinted the place and sent a detective,” Grey added, stating that break-ins at businesses have become too commonplace. “I just feel, ‘What are you going to do?’”

Detectives with the Los Angeles Police Department’s Wilshire Division are investigating the burglary. Anyone with information is urged to call detectives at (213)922-8205 or (213)473-0476.

A security camera captured images of the suspect inside the store. (photo courtesy of Zack Grey)