A northwest Fresno tattoo studio was left devastated after thieves broke into the shop early Wednesday morning, stealing thousands of dollars’ worth of equipment and causing significant damage.
The owner of Inked Arch, Erica Castaneda, reported that the thieves took all six of her tattoo machines, along with a considerable amount of expensive ink. “They stole all six machines I had in the building, as well as a decent amount of ink,” Castaneda said.
The burglary occurred just as the New Year’s celebrations were underway, leaving behind broken glass and boarded-up windows. Castaneda confirmed that the thieves gained entry through a conference room window on the second floor, leaving a trail of destruction in their wake. “The items were very specific,” she remarked. “I feel like they knew exactly where to go. Other cabinets were untouched, while certain ones were targeted.”
In addition to the stolen equipment, the thieves damaged cabinets and even overturned trash cans in search of valuables. Among the stolen items were custom-made signs.
For years, Castaneda has donated her tattoo services to breast cancer survivors, providing areola tattoos as part of their recovery process. Now, in the wake of the break-in, she is turning to the community for help through a GoFundMe campaign.
“This is my livelihood, and this is how I take care of my child,” Castaneda explained. “I feel like they robbed both of us.”
The theft comes amidst a recent surge in break-ins targeting local businesses in Fresno. Just days before the incident at Inked Arch, thieves crashed a car into the DripOnDrip sneaker store at River Park on Monday, stealing merchandise. Additionally, hours before the tattoo shop burglary, thieves smashed through a door at a Japanese restaurant in northeast Fresno, making off with alcohol and other equipment.
Fresno police are investigating the string of break-ins, but store owners are left to pick up the pieces. Castaneda, in particular, expressed her frustration, saying, “Whoever goes around burglarizing and robbing other businesses has no heart.”
As she works to recover from the theft, Castaneda remains hopeful that the support of the community will help her rebuild and continue offering her services to those in need.
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