Arrest made after world-famous Downtown restaurant is burglarized

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC) – Another Memphis restaurant was targeted in a burglary Sunday morning. The burglar was caught on video stealing the cash register before an arrest was made less than an hour later.

Ms. BJ Chester-Tomayo opened Alcenia’s restaurant 27 years ago. The soul food restaurant, named after her mother, has gained international recognition since then.

“Alcenia’s used to be, when we first opened, a Memphis staple,” says Ms. BJ. “Now it’s more of a world staple.”

Police were called to the restaurant after an alarm went off at 6 a.m. Sunday morning. Surveillance video captured a man scoping the area outside before breaking through the door with a concrete slab and kicking the glass loose so we could climb inside.

The burglar went straight to the cash register and ripped it from the cabinet.

Officers left the scene to check the area and saw a man with matching clothes at the MATA bus stop just a quarter-mile north of the restaurant.

Dijribil Samassa was taken into question before. The suspect stated that he did not break into anything. Officers then brought the suspect to GIB for questioning before being transported to 201 Poplar.

Miss BJ says she doesn’t get why a burglar would target her restaurant.

“You have stepped in my house, and you have trespassed on something that I [wanted] you to come in and feel the love.”

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