Sweet Red Peach Bakery, a cherished establishment in Pasadena, California, is confronting an "unexpected crisis" after thieves targeted its rooftop air conditioning unit, stealing approximately $4,000 worth of copper wire and leaving the business with a $15,000 repair bill.
The theft, which occurred on the bakery's rooftop on Arroyo Parkway, crippled the building's HVAC system. Co-founder Kenyatta Glover stated that the criminals dismantled the unit to access and steal high-grade copper wiring and condensing coils for scrap metal.
"While they walked away with a small amount of scrap cash, they left us with thousands of dollars in damage and a completely unusable HVAC system," Glover said in a GoFundMe message. The loss of the cooling system has also compromised the bakery's walk-in refrigeration units, jeopardizing its ability to store perishable goods.
Amidst a Southern California heatwave, temperatures inside the bakery soared to 90 degrees Fahrenheit, causing cakes to melt and threatening the integrity of the freezing units. The situation has put the bakery's ability to remain open and its capacity to keep employees safe at risk.
The incident has galvanized community support, with neighboring businesses and residents offering assistance. Neighbors & Friends Café provided a swamp cooler, and EatYoWay restaurant purchased all remaining cakes in a show of solidarity. An HVAC company, Brodypennell, has also offered to replace the damaged unit free of charge.
The bakery has launched a GoFundMe campaign to help cover the significant repair costs. Glover noted that the business had not fully recovered from the Eaton Fire prior to this incident.