CORAL SPRINGS, Fla. — A vandal recently used a smoke bomb to prevent surveillance cameras from recording clear video of the recent destruction at a beloved Greek restaurant in Coral Springs, police said.
The hunt is on, police said on Wednesday. Nikol Zarbalas, the owner of Hellenic, said she was perplexed since she couldn’t think of anyone who would want to hurt her or her small business.
“We don’t have a beef with anybody,” Zarbalas said.
Detectives believe the vandal likely used a rubber hammer on Saturday morning to break 10 windows at 10436 West Atlantic Boulevard. There were scuff marks on the glass, according to police.
“The emotional side came again when I posted it on Facebook,” Zarbalas said. She used the restaurant’s page to send the vandal a message: “You didn’t shatter us. You woke us up. Every attempt to break us — windows, walls, or spirit — only makes us come back louder, stronger, and more alive than before. We’re still here. And we’re not going anywhere."
The restaurant’s fans have been very supportive. Zarbalas temporarily fixed the windows with plexiglass, and after community fundraisers, she has received donations for repairs.
“Whether it’s supporting the homeless or lending a hand to anyone in need. Her kindness and giving spirit have touched so many lives in our community,” Xiomara Alvarez wrote about Zarbalas on a GoFundMe page.
In a gratitude note to the community on Monday, Zarbalas sent another message to the vandal or vandals, who Coral Springs detectives had yet to identify.
“To whoever thought this would slow us down — you clearly don’t know who you’re dealing with,“ she wrote. ”You didn’t break us. You woke up an entire community. My community. My home.”
Detectives asked anyone with information about this or other cases to call Miami-Dade County Crime Stoppers at 305-471-8477 to remain anonymous.
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