The Marshall Store was burglarized for the second time this year on Sunday night, marking the third burglary of its kind in the area since May.
Three or four thieves apparently pried open the oyster bar’s front door and took the safe, which was bolted to the ground, and the cash in the register, said owner Shannon Gregory.
“We have some surveillance footage, but everyone [was] wearing hoodies and masks,” he said.
An initial report to the sheriff’s office said about $1,900 was taken, but Mr. Gregory estimated the burglars absconded with less, about $800.
In May, the store had another safe stolen along with cash from the register—in total about $5,000—along with a computerized sales system. After that theft, Mr. Gregory, who has run the shop for the last decade, installed surveillance cameras.
“Out here, we’re so isolated. We just do what we can do. I’ll definitely buy some more cameras now,” he said.
In October, nearby Tomales Bay Oyster Company’s safe—which contained about $16,900 and was also bolted to the ground—was stolen from its office in Marshall. The oyster company is owned by Mr. Gregory’s stepfather, Tod Friend.
“We’re not sure if the same people” are responsible for all three burglaries, Mr. Gregory said, though he noted that the string of crimes was suspicious.
Lieutenant Doug Pittman said the Marin County Sheriff’s Office has not yet determined whether a connection exists between the three events.
“We haven’t identified any correlation” with either of the previous two burglaries, he said of the recent break-in, “but we are keeping all options open.”
Another theft took place on Sunday night, just to the north of the Marshall Store, at Blue Waters Kayaking, where owner John Granatir reported that two motor boat keys were stolen from a shed.
“It’s a stupid thing to steal. The motor boats weren’t even in the water,” he said.
The company will have the boats rekeyed.