Fresno Police Seek Suspect After Early Morning Burglary at Colorado Grill

Fresno police are searching for the person who forced entry into the Colorado Grill restaurant in Fresno early Saturday morning, and no arrests have been reported in that specific incident. Investigators said they are seeking tips from the public to identify the suspect and piece together what was taken or damaged at the downtown eatery.

The Colorado Grill break-in comes amid a broader Fresno Police Department probe that has linked a string of thefts, burglaries and catalytic-converter thefts across the city. Police said detectives identified and located a suspect vehicle tied to a series of crimes and executed seven search warrants; the investigation has produced nine arrests in total, five felony arrests and four misdemeanor arrests. Units working the cases include district detectives, the Adult Compliance Team (ACT), the Career Criminal Auto Theft Team (CCAT), the California Highway Patrol and Fresno County Sheriff detectives.

A Fresno PD news release, as described by investigators, notes officers recognized a parked vehicle as that of Robert George Hill, who was "wanted in connection with" the release did not include the remainder of that sentence in the material available to this newsroom. Evidence seized across multiple locations included catalytic converters, burglary tools, clothing, gambling machines and cellular devices, according to investigators involved in the multi-agency effort.

The department has said it is still clarifying which incidents are linked. Investigators have cited several separate break-ins citywide and in neighboring Clovis: on June 21 four people forcibly entered the Circle D gas station on East Olive Avenue and removed an ATM; a Monday-night break-in around 10:42 p.m. at Plant Slayer, the vegan restaurant inside The Galleria at the Civic Center Square in Downtown Fresno, left major damage to a security system and shattered windows while neighboring Raw Fresno lost a cash register and an iPad; and an early-morning July 27 burglary at Grill Masters Barbeque in Clovis resulted in roughly $7,000 in damages.

Clovis prosecutors have charged one man in the Grill Masters case. Raymond Vallin is in the Fresno County Jail facing several felony and misdemeanor charges, including possession of a firearm and ammunition, after security video showed Vallin and another unidentified man prying open a back door to steal cash and tech devices, including a MacBook. Grill Masters owner Maribel Aguilar, whose restaurant has operated for 14 years, said, "I felt violated because this is like my baby. It's 14 years old and we've nurtured it and taken good care of it." Aguilar added, "It warms my heart because there's actually more good than there is bad. As much as we hear about the bad, it has no comparison compared to the good out there."

Fresno police are asking anyone with information or surveillance footage related to the Colorado Grill break-in or the broader series of thefts to contact Detective Bacus at 559-621-6215 or submit anonymous tips to Crime Stoppers at (559) 498-STOP. Investigators said they will continue to review evidence from the seven search warrants and may announce additional arrests or charges as cases are consolidated.