The owners of Maria’s Deli in Newhall and Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station detectives are asking for the public’s help in identifying the man who broke into the restaurant in June.

“My brother does maintenance work everyday, while he started to do the clean-up, this guy started breaking in,” said Bruno Simione, owner of Maria’s Deli. “(The suspect) noticed the (electrical) breaker box and flipped all of the breakers off. We didn’t get any more (video) footage.” 

The man appeared to survey the restaurant from his car before parking behind the building and breaking in through the back door, Simione said.

The burglar took about $5,000 to $6,000 in cash but dropped some of the cash on the floor on his way out, Simione said, adding that the restaurant hasn’t been broken into since the 1994 Northridge earthquake.

“I want him caught, I don’t care about the money — it can be replaced. As long as nobody gets hurt. The man threatened my brother.”

The burglar told Simione’s brother, Robert Simione, that he had a gun and to “back away or I’m going to hurt you,” Bruno Simione said.

The man appeared to be about 5’10”, balding or have a buzzcut, wearing lime green fluorescent sneakers and was left handed, the Simione brothers said.

“We need to catch this guy,” Bruno Simione said.

SCV Sheriff’s Station officials ask the community to help prevent or report crimes by contacting the station at 661-255-1121. If you have any information about these crimes and wish to remain Anonymous, call “LA Crime Stoppers” by dialing 800-222-TIPS (8477), texting the letters TIPLA plus your tip to CRIMES (274637), or using the website.