Tania Espinosa is back cooking in her restaurant, Vlady Cuban, a day after someone broke in. She said this place is how she supports her family.
"Cuban food, to bring this flavor of us to the whole world, and I have had no choice but to support," Espinosa said. "I support it with great pleasure so that tomorrow my children will have something to live on just like us."
Espinosa opened Vlady Cuban Food in the Cape Coral strip mall on SE 47th Terrace two years ago. She said they came from Miami with faith that Cape Coral was going to have a calmer life for her family.
However, her hope for a calmer life was stripped away when she walked into her store Monday morning.
"I went in and saw the register completely open, and they hadn't left me any money," she said. "They took everything. Everything."
A man broke in around 5 a.m. and stole about $2,000. He then went two doors down to Luna Fashion and broke in, going straight for the register. Cape Coral Police confirmed a check cashing store nearby on Cape Coral Parkway was also hit.
The owner of the strip mall, Dionne Lopez, said it's unfortunate.
"They may not have the money now to purchase gifts for their families or food," Lopez said.
She said businesses should take this as a lesson to be more proactive and more cautious in leaving money in drawers.
If you recognize the man, call CCPD.