Nealie’s Skillet in Valencia was broken into early Tuesday morning, the third time in less than three years, according to the co-owner.

At about 3:30 a.m. Tuesday, a man smashed the front door of the Valencia restaurant, walking away on foot with an unknown about of money, said Neal Scott, co-owner of Nealie’s Skillet.

“We are so saddened this is our heart our life we put in every day,” Scott said. This was our dream to own a business once again our dreams are being broken by a selfish individual.”

Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station deputies responded to the break-in, and are currently conducting an investigation, according to Shirley Miller, spokesperson for the station.

This is the third time the restaurant has been broken into, according to Scott, with two last year on Jan. 2 and again on Jan. 7.

“It has been so emotional,” Scott said. “We are just trying to provide for the community, this happening again, and again, is heartbreaking.”

The restauranteur was awoken Tuesday with a call from the alarm company with reports of sirens blaring at Nealie’s Skillet.

“I jumped out of bed as soon as I heard,” Scott said. “We only live about two blocks away, so I was there very quickly,”

But it was too late, the suspect had fled on foot to the nearby paseos.

“The front doors were completely smashed,” Scott said. “It took me and our contractor over three hours to pick up all of the broken glass.”

The break-in did not stop Nealies Skillet from feeding the community.

“This morning, we have a group of about 50 with a meeting,” Scott said. “We are not letting this break-in stop us from serving up food.”

Anyone with information about the break-in at Nealie’s Skillet in Valencia contact the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station at (661) 255-1121.

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