Hesperia Jewelry Store Owner Falls Victim To Thieves For Third Time This Year

HESPERIA (CBSLA.com) — A jewelry store owner in Hesperia has fallen victim to theft three times this year, with the latest incident taking place Wednesday.

"It's not like they're hitting a business. They're attacking our life," said jeweler Veronica Espinosa, whose parents own Main Express Jewelry.

The first robbery was in March. Security cameras captured armed men bashing glass cases before pistol-whipping owner Roberto Espinosa.

In June, the Espinosa's had to endure a second hold-up.

"I'm at the end of my rope," said Roberto, who's well known as a police volunteer in the High Desert and highly-praised by several business owners.

That law enforcement training wasn't enough to stop Wednesday's burglary. Cameras caught only a few frames of the thief breaking in just after midnight. Police hope someone will recognize his face and report him.

While investigators try to find the suspect, the Espinosa family is considering getting out of the jewelry business.

One of their daughters is begging them to pack up and leave this all behind.

"I grew up in an immigrant family, with mom and dad.  Growing up, they told us this was a country where you come and you could do anything, as long as it was done with hard work and honesty.  So to pack up seems like a contradiction to that," Veronica said.