A Dublin restaurateur has warned that “incidents like these do seem to be happening more frequently” after thieves ransacked his premises and stole cash and electronics.
Speaking in an interview following the early-morning break-in at his restaurant in The Square Shopping Centre, Salsa Mexican Food owner Héctor Lamas said discovering the burglary was “very frustrating and disappointing.”
“Arriving at your own business and seeing everything turned upside down, things scattered around and knowing that someone has broken in and stolen from you is not a pleasant experience,” he said.
“When you put so much time, effort and hard work into something, it’s difficult to see it treated that way.”
During the burglary, intruders stole a tablet, a mobile phone, and the cash kept on the premises, leaving a mess behind.
Security personnel at the shopping centre noticed the break-in between 5 a.m. and 6 a.m., alerting Lamas by phone and sending him video footage before contacting An Garda Síochána. Gardaí attended the scene to take a report and collect CCTV footage from the centre’s security team.
Originally from Guadalajara in Jalisco, Mexico, Lamas has operated the business in Ireland for nine years, stating that the venture “genuinely started from absolutely nothing.”
“It has been a long and challenging journey, with a lot of hard work, sacrifices and determination along the way,” Lamas said.
“…Thankfully, over the years, we’ve received an incredible response from our customers, and I’m very proud of what we’ve achieved.”
“Our team is made up of people from Latin American backgrounds, and for us, the restaurant is much more than just a business. It’s also a way of sharing our culture, our traditions and our passion for food with the community.”
While the burglary was the first such incident at this particular restaurant in nine years, Lamas noted that he experienced a similar break-in at another restaurant in Dublin 7 several years ago, adding that such crimes appear to be occurring more often. Despite his concerns over the trend, he praised the response of the Gardaí.
“That said, I don’t particularly want to focus only on the negative side of things or point fingers,” he said.
“I believe the Gardaí are doing the best they can, and I appreciate the work they do. I also think it’s important to remember that there are many more good, hardworking and decent people in our communities than there are people who choose to do harm.”
Following the break-in, the restaurant posted about the robbery on social media to encourage other local businesses in Dublin to “stay alert, take precautions and look out for one another.” Speaking about whether the ordeal made it harder to continue trading, Lamas explained why he chose to highlight the matter publicly.
“Of course, experiences like this can be discouraging, especially when you consider how much effort it takes to build and maintain a small business,” Lamas said.
“But personally, I prefer to focus on the positive. One of the reasons I originally shared the incident on social media was simply to make people aware of what had happened and encourage other businesses and members of the community to take precautions.”
In a subsequent social media update, the Salsa team said they were “honestly overwhelmed by all the love and support” received from customers and friends across the community. Looking ahead to the ongoing investigation, Lamas expressed hope that the culprits would be identified by Gardaí and face “appropriate consequences.”
“I think accountability is very important, not only for those directly affected but also to discourage similar incidents in the future,” he said.
“When people see that these actions have consequences, they may think twice before doing something like this. On the other hand, when people repeatedly get away with these offences, there is a risk that they begin to feel they can continue without facing any consequences. I hope the investigation leads to a positive outcome, and I appreciate the efforts being made by the Gardaí and the shopping centre’s security team.”
Having lived in Ireland for 16 years, the business owner added that he did not want the break-in to define the restaurant or overshadow its past nine years of trading, describing Ireland as “a wonderful country that offers a very good quality of life and many opportunities.”
“Ireland is a country where many people, including myself, have come looking for a better future and have found opportunities to build a life, work hard and contribute to the community,” Lamas said.
“I think that’s something we should never forget or take for granted. I also believe the Gardaí are doing their best, and rather than simply criticising the system, I think we should all try to support them.”
He added: “After 16 years in Ireland, I still feel very grateful for the opportunities this country has given me. One unfortunate experience doesn’t change my opinion of Ireland or the many wonderful people who live here.”
Salsa Mexican Food operates Dublin outlets at Custom House Square in the IFSC, on King Street North in Dublin 7, and at The Square Shopping Centre, alongside a restaurant on Abbeygate Street Upper in Galway.
Anyone who witnessed the incident or has information that could assist the investigation should contact the restaurant or An Garda Síochána.