Irving Businessman Says Oak Cliff Robber Hit His Business Too

DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) - Six minutes. That's how long it took burglars to break into Franklin Products, an Irving manufacturer last week and make off with a $1500 projector—leaving another thousand in damage.

"He didn't break the window, he went for the trim," says Jimmy Jenkins, production manager at Franklin Products.

Jenkins just can't catch a break. Six times in the past seven years, burglars have found their way to—and through—his company's front door. There's no cash on hand, so the damage, he says, was more "than what the camera was worth."

Seasoned in this arena, the company's surveillance system caught it all on tape. Still, Jenkins didn't think he'd ever see the suspect's face again. But, as fate would have it, his unwelcome guest made another appearance: on the evening news.

"After I watched our video and I saw the one on the news, I was like, `that's definitely the same guy: same MO, same screwdriver, hits the door on the side the exact same way… didn't open any doors up'."

That's right. Jenkins is not suffering alone. He's convinced that his burglar is the same one he saw on the news. Staffers at Zoli's, a Bishop Arts pizza tavern posted video of a man who made off with the restaurant's big screen TV.

The hope was that a little social media shaming might scare up a suspect.

"I don't even care about the TV at this point," Britt Chapman, General Manager at Zoli's said last week, "I want to catch this guy so it doesn't happen again."

But, an email from Irving police today confirmed Jenkins' suspicions that it already had. His company was burglarized Sunday night. The Bishop Arts restaurants were targeted a few days later.

Irving detectives are contacting their colleagues in Dallas about the possible connection with the Bishop Arts burglaries. A nearby smokehouse was targeted as well.

"It's very frustrating," says Jenkins, "this is our livelihood: this business. And people keep breaking in and taking our stuff that we've worked so hard to get. It sets you back."

The suspects are believed to be driving a dark, 90s model Ford pickup with a beige stripe. The vehicle is likely a standard shift because the surveillance video shows that it stalled before the pair could escape.

The surveillance video from the Irving burglary is in color and much clearer—so Jenkins thinks that it will just be a matter of time, before someone drops the proverbial dime.

"The pizza restaurant is offering free pizza," says Jenkins with a laugh, "it won't be long before someone will get hungry enough and turn him in."