Ice cream criminals: Cambridge, Ont. staple L.A. Franks robbed of more than 25 ice cream tubs

In total, between 25 and 30 tubs of ice cream were stolen, along with pop, water, oil and some small equipment. (Spencer Turcotte/CTV News)

A long-running outdoor eatery in Cambridge, Ont., is dealing with a costly and unusual break-in after dozens of tubs of ice cream were stolen over the weekend.

Russ Thomas, owner of L.A. Franks, said he arrived at the business around 7 a.m. Sunday to find the back door of a shed had been cut open.

“The back door had been cut with a grinder of sort, and entry was given and they had taken all my pop and my ice cream,” he said.

Thomas said the suspects appear to have used a battery-powered grinder to cut through the locking bolts to gain access.

He estimates between 25 and 30 tubs of ice cream were stolen, along with pop, water, oil and some small equipment. Each tub holds about 11.4 litres.

“Obviously there’s this situation where the person’s not going to eat that much. They may have problems storing that much ice cream. I’m not sure what they’re doing — maybe reselling,” Thomas said. “We have great ice cream. I understand why they stole it.”

The theft represents a significant loss for the family-run business, now in its 34th summer of operation.

“We’re talking a couple thousand dollars,” he said. “When a small business has to eat that kind of cost, it affects everybody. It affects my wife, it affects my family.”

Thomas said the moment he arrived, he immediately suspected what had happened.

“My heart just went all the way down, and I knew. I didn’t even have to look inside,” he recalled. “I take it personally and so does my wife. It hurts. It sucks.”

In a post on social media, the business said the theft likely occurred between 8 p.m. Saturday and 6 a.m. Sunday, adding those responsible would have needed tools and a way to transport the items.

The food stand operates out of a city-owned building where surveillance cameras were installed last year. Thomas said the city is working to determine whether any footage captured the incident and can be shared with police.

Despite the loss, Thomas said the focus is on moving forward.

“Stay strong and just move forward. Do the best you can with what you have,” he said, adding the business remains open.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police or reach out to L.A. Franks.