Surveillance video captured the moment a masked burglar stole more than $25,000 in $1 bills from a San Diego strip club — a theft the owner believes may have involved someone with inside knowledge.
Dino Palmiotto, owner of Expose, a gentlemen’s club in Kearny Mesa, released security footage showing the suspect inside the business after allegedly breaking in around 5 a.m. Monday, according to CBS 8.
“He then kicked the door multiple times,” Palmiotto told FOX 5 while describing how the intruder gained access.
The footage shows the masked suspect moving through the club and heading directly to the area where the safe was located before leaving with the cash, Palmiotto said.
According to the owner, the burglar escaped with $25,300 — all in single-dollar bills.
Palmiotto said the suspect appeared to “know exactly where to go” and claimed the person was on the phone with someone while inside the club.
The owner said each employee authorized to access the safe is assigned an individual code.
Although Palmiotto said he did not recognize the person seen in the video, he claimed the code used had previously been associated with a former manager of the club.
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“The alarm system went off, so the alarm company contacted me,” the owner said. “We went ahead and dispatched, and the reason why we dispatched was because a former employee that used to work here, his alarm code was used.”
“As a small business owner and former Marine, there would be no way that we can let this go.”
“We’ve got to stop these people,” he added.
Following the burglary, the owner took several steps to beef up security at the club. He’s also offering a $5,000 reward for anyone who can provide information that leads to an arrest.
“We are pursuing criminal and civil charges against the former manager who provided the alarm, office and safe codes,” Palmiotto told The California Post.
He noted that the response from the community has been nothing like he’s ever seen in 33 years in the business.
“Customers are coming in the club saying they are there to support the club after learning what happened,” he said.
Palmiotto told The Post that he’s still not been contacted by San Diego Police Department about the incident but when The Post contacted SDPD they said that an investigation is currently underway.
No other information was provided.
