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Store's First Break-Ins In 23 Years Coincide With Arrival Of Occupy Boston

BOSTON (CBS) - Linda Capillo doesn't know why, after 23 years, her small convenience store on Congress Street is being targeted by thieves.

"After they came through the door, I put bars on it," said Capillo. "Then, they start coming through the window."

In 23 years, she had never had a break-in at Congress Card & Tobacco on 230 Congress Street. But in the past month, there have been four. Each time, the thieves took nothing but cigarettes, scratch tickets and/or cash.

View Video: Boston police release surveillance video of one of the break-ins on Oct. 9

Capillo isn't pointing any fingers, but the breaks have coincided with the arrival of the Occupy Boston movement, with the notable exception being first break-in on Sept. 29, the day before the protests began.

WBZ-TV's Bill Shields reports.

"I'd like to think it's not Occupy Boston, because they represent the struggle of many of us," said Carla Davis, one of Linda's regulars.

Occupy Boston Break-Ins
Police are looking for these two men responsible for the first break-in on Sept. 29. (Photo Credit: Boston Police)

List of break-ins:

  • Sept. 29 at 12:41 a.m.
  • Oct. 9 at 3:30 a.m.
  • Oct. 11 at 12:40 a.m.
  • Oct. 25 at 5:00 a.m.

Another customer, Bill Mahoney, doesn't know what to make of it all.

"It does seem a little coincidental, but I hope it's not them," said Mahoney.

Linda just wants whoever is breaking in to stop.

"I need to pay my bills, and now my insurance will skyrocket, and I have a family to support," said Capillo.

A spokesman for Occupy Boston said break-ins are the antithesis of what they're about.

"We are against any kind of violence or vandalism," said Alex Ingram. "Break-ins are not what we are all about."

WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Mike Macklin reports

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Anyone with information is asked to call Boston police at (617) 343-4248.

No one has been arrested or charged in the break-ins.

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