Burglars have hit two North County animal shelters two different times. On Sunday night at the Escondido Humane Society, police say the burglars broke in through the roof. They entered the building and left with about $1700.
It happened again on Tuesday night when the burglars tried to take money from a cash register. They banged it up but a burglar alarm sounded and they didn't leave with anything.
Katie Woolsey, spokesperson for the Escondido Humane Society, tells San Diego 6 News it creates hardships for the animals, "It's very frustrating. It is heartbreaking because they are not stealing from us. They are stealing from the animals here."
John Van Zante with the Helen Woodward Animal Center in Rancho Santa Fe shows us the damage left behind when burglars hit their shelter Sunday night, shattering the glass in the front of their store.
Officers say the thieves left with about $600 in cash from that robbery.
Zante wonders why burglars would hit an animal shelter. "We are afraid -- we hope we are wrong -- we are afraid this may be a sign of the times."
Escondido police and sheriff deputies are trying to determine if the same thieves hit the two shelters.
"Our detectives are speaking to the detectives there and trying to see if there is any connection at all," said Lt. Craig Carter with the Escondido Police Department.
In the meantime, both animal shelters say they are prepared for the worst.
