WEST DES MOINES, Iowa — Six people are in custody after allegedly stealing from a Mexican grocery store in West Des Moines that's been serving the community for over 18 years.
West Des Moines police said six people took more than $1,000 in cash from La Michoacana Mexican Groceries around 7 p.m. Saturday before leaving in a vehicle.
Officers later stopped the group's vehicle and charged four males and two females with first-degree theft. The suspects range in age from 18 to 34 years old.
The individuals charged are:
- Salvatore Stoican
- Siad Stoican
- Anna Marie Fetealie
- Versace Stoican
- Ion Steffan
- Andreia Poienaru
The group took cash, customer checks, inventory and payroll money from behind the register, according to Diego Castro, the owner's son.
"They took all my money," said Andres Castro, another one of the owner's sons. "That's what we make a living out of pretty much. Out of cash and checks. Of course, we have the store and everything, but that's our main source of income."
Andres said the people went to the back of the grocery store where he was cooking food, and then got his brother — Jesus — away from the register.
Security footage La Michoacana provided to Local 5 shows the six people they say robbed them on Saturday night.
Two men walk out of the front door, and the second man waits for two more men and two women to follow them out.
WATCH: Security footage shows theft suspects leaving La Michoacana in West Des Moines
Jesus said the six people were the only people in the store at the time of the theft.
"The way they left was really weird. So instantly I knew it was them, and I instantly picked up the phone and called 911," he said.
La Michoacana, located at 433 5th St in the Historic Valley Junction, sells groceries, serves up homemade food and offers money transfer services to Mexico, Central and South America.
A GoFundMe page created by Diego says the store lost up to $80,000 in the incident, which involved "money transfers, customers changed checks, inventory money and payroll money."
"We are family owned and we depend on our stores business to live," Diego wrote on the page.
West Des Moines police say the investigation into the theft is ongoing.
Local 5 will update this story as more information becomes available. Download the We Are Iowa app or subscribe to Local 5's "5 Things to Know" email newsletter for the latest