DISCOVERY BAY — Burglars made off with jawbreakers, suckers and some spring flowers — but not money — in a late-night break-in at Discovery Bay Railroad Park last week.
The owners said the burglary cost them around $5,500 when factoring in the price of the candy, the missing candy display tubes, the candy bins, a scale and the broken door that had to be replaced.
“The rudest thing was the fuchsias and geraniums they took,” said Crystal Bonney, owner of the candy, ice cream and restaurant stop along Highway 101.
She arrived to work at 7 a.m. April 28 and found the items missing.
“I had a bunch of flower starts out back here, and they took them too.”
Bonney said she believes multiple burglars broke open the door to the candy shop section of the unique business in Discovery Bay that comprises multiple railroad cars. The candy shop is located in a wood building behind the cars.
“It’s hard to break into the cars,” Bonney said.
“But right here, they just went in and broke the door open and broke all of the glass out.”
Once inside, the burglars took heavy baskets of jawbreakers, large bins of candy and giant cylinder display tubes filled with candy.
Bonney has owned the store with her two sons, Blane and Jason Smith, for three years.
In that time, she said, burglars have tried to break into the railroad cars before but never the candy shop.
“We never thought anyone would bother with this part,” Bonney said.
“And what they took really wasn’t the most valuable candy.”
The owners have decided to put a reward of $500 out for anyone with information that leads to the arrest of the individuals involved.
“I’ve already received a call,” said Blane Smith.
“We will see if anything comes of it.”
The family purchased the store in 2006 when it was offered for sale by the previous owners. In that time, the railroad cars have become a lot more than an ice cream and candy shop, Bonney said.
“People are starting to find out that we have some real gourmet food here,” she said.
“We’ve gone from a seasonal area for ice cream to a full-time restaurant.
“We have seating inside the train cars now and a lot of menu options.”
The owners said the location is great during the summer months, but with the bridge closure and the economy, the burglary isn’t something they needed at this time.
“We’re all in this together, and this doesn’t help,” said Bonney.
“But I’m not going to up my prices just because of something like this.”
Jefferson County Sheriff Tony Hernandez said his office is investigating the break-in and asking the public for any information.
Smith can be contacted at 360-379-6812.
The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office cane be contacted at 360-385-3831.
Reporter Erik Hidle can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at erik.hidle@peninsuladailynews.com.
