HOUSTON — Plywood replaced plate glass at Noam Jewelers on Westheimer where the windows were no match for brazen burglars early Thursday morning.
"They backed in, smashed the store," owner Lev Rakhminov said.
He shared surveillance video with KHOU 11 News showing suspects in a 20-foot U-Haul truck backing into the store just after 1 a.m.
There appeared to be as many as five guys who got out of the truck and another vehicle parked around back.
KHOU 11 News was at the scene shortly after the crime was reported when the U-Haul, left behind by the alleged burglars, had yet to be towed away.
"Not only did they smash the window, but they smashed the integrity of the building," Rakhminov said. "The frame is like falling apart in the building. So, I've got to see what happens there."
The suspects quickly realized valuables were locked up and didn't get away with anything. But that wasn't the case two days ago when a single suspect broke through the front door before repeatedly smashing a display case with a big rock. He ran off with whatever he could quickly grab.
"I mean, I have a security guard that's, you know, on-premises when we're open," Rakhminov said. "I guess I'm going to have to put a security guard overnight as well now."
Meanwhile, he's left to deal with the landlord and insurance to what this latest crime might cost him.
"I mean, my life savings are in this store," Rakhminov said.
You might recall we recently covered another business burglary involving suspects in a U-Haul. They rammed a wall at least 15 times before breaking through.
U-Haul told KHOU 11 in a statement that they work with law enforcement any time there is criminal activity involving the company's equipment. Read U-Haul's full statement:
"U-Haul employs a robust investigations unit that works closely with law enforcement to see that persons engaged in criminal activity involving U-Haul equipment are captured and prosecuted."
RELATED: Only on KHOU 11: Burglars ram U-Haul into SE Houston Foot Locker 15 times to bring down the wall
It is unclear if the cases may be connected or if the two burglaries at Noam are related. Anyone with information should call Crime Stoppers.