The Houston community is coming together to support two local bakeries that were burglarized on the same night. The incidents, which occurred on May 21, involved masked men targeting both The Bearded Baker and Michael’s Cookie Jar.
According to the Houston police, the break-ins were caught on surveillance cameras. The Bearded Baker, located in the Heights, was broken into through a glass window, which is now boarded up. Elaine Shaffer, the bakery’s manager, described the scene: “They basically trashed the front area and the office looking for something, assuming money. All they took was a speaker and peanut butter.”
This burglary comes at a particularly challenging time for The Bearded Baker’s owner, Allan Hursig, who was diagnosed with colon cancer last month and began chemotherapy just a day before the break-in. The community has rallied around him, showing their support during his treatment and recovery.
<p"People have heard about the break-in. A lot of people know Allan. He's been in the Heights community for years. The community has been really supportive," Shaffer added, noting that they have sold out of cookies every day since the incident.
Meanwhile, Michael’s Cookie Jar was also targeted on the same morning, with the owner reporting that the suspects managed to steal some cash. Investigators are treating both cases as separate incidents while they explore possible connections between them.
Authorities are urging anyone with information regarding the break-ins to reach out to Houston police.
