In Memphis, Tennessee, a man was arrested after breaking into Alcenia’s World Famous Soul Food restaurant on North Main Street. The police identified the suspect as 28-year-old Djibril Samassa.
The restaurant’s owner, Betty Joyce “B.J.” Chester-Tamayo, shared the frustrating aftermath of the break-in. “He smashed the door, grabbed the cash drawer, and broke that too. Then he damaged a cabinet, and it wasn’t even locked,” she said, describing the mess left behind.
According to police, surveillance cameras captured Samassa in action. The footage showed him struggling to open a cabinet and then having a hard time snatching the cash drawer. Before breaking in, Samassa was seen picking up a concrete slab, which he used to smash the glass on the restaurant’s front door. Authorities reported that he managed to steal around $100.
For Chester-Tamayo, the damage caused was far more costly than the money stolen. “You can get out of jail for $1,200, but it’s going to cost me much more than that to fix everything in Alcenia’s,” she explained. With business already slow during the winter months, she’s not only concerned about repairs but also about making payroll for her employees. “It’s tough, but now this adds to my worries.”
Samassa is currently being held in jail on a $1,200 bond and is scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday.
