Thieves Target Local Store In Lake Forest Thursday

LAKE FOREST, CA — A small business in Lake Forest was targeted by thieves on Thursday, leaving a local business owner scrambling as authorities try to locate the suspects.

Business owner Jo Ann Morgan Winter has owned the Uptown Cheapskate store on 24366 Rockfield Blvd. in Lake Forest for 10 years, where she and her team of staffers purchase gently-used clothing and accessories to sell to Orange County shoppers.

On Thursday, she received a call from the Orange County Sheriff's Department notifying her that her store had been broken into — the front entrance of the store was shattered, and items were stolen off of the walls.

"This is the first time I've had a burglary at the Lake Forest location," Jo Ann told Patch. The Orange County businesswoman has two Uptown Cheapskate stores in the area, the second being in Placentia. "I begged for this location — I wanted to have this store so bad. We've been here for ten years, kept our doors open for ten years, we just renewed our lease for another ten years. We're happy here. We love the community."

The recent burglary, however, has left Jo Ann scrambling as she and her staff try to account for everything that the thieves stole.

While she doesn't have an exact idea on what's been stolen yet, she told Patch that she noticed when she arrived to the store that several designer handbags had been stolen from the walls.

"It's just, time. It takes so much time. I'm upset about the expenses, but I also don't have time for this," Jo Ann said.

"I can't tell you how defeating this is. We work so hard to have a fun and inexpensive place to shop for everyone," she told Patch.

While authorities were able to recover surveillance footage of the burglary, Jo Ann told Patch that she "couldn't tell who it was based on the video." She is working to put more cameras up in the store, she said.

The recent burglary comes after a string of thefts were reported across South Orange County. Most notably, a Lulu's Cafe, Luna Grill, Mountain Mike's Pizza and La Fiesta Mexican Grill located in Rancho Santa Margarita were broken into this past week.

The suspects involved in those burglaries apparently stole safes that were not anchored to the ground.

"The problem is, nothing happens to these shoplifters. They can shoplift up to $950 before any [punishment] happens," Jo Ann said. "...People are so bold, they just grab and run out."

Residents can help support the Uptown Cheapskate store by shopping or donating at the store, located at 24366 Rockfield Blvd. in Lake Forest and open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on most days.

"When you run your store so tight — we’re not making millions here or anything — and then you have this setback... it’s like, okay, now I gotta come up with another two grand," Jo Ann said. "If the community would just shop at small businesses to help them cover the expenses, that would be remarkable.”

To learn more about the Uptown Cheapskate Store in Lake Forest, visit them on Instagram or Facebook.