A small business owner and her employees' jobs are at risk after a moving truck carrying thousands of dollars worth of merchandise and supplies for her new store was stolen Sunday night.
Stephanie Kiseau, has owned Sideline Sports for 25 years, but was forced to move from her location in Sherman Oaks after she lost her lease. She loaded up a 26-foot yellow Penske moving truck with the supplies for her new store set to open July 25.
"The truck was filled from front to back with an entire retail store," Kiseau said.
It contained approximately $100,000 worth of sports merchandise including Los Angeles Kings and new Los Angeles Rams apparel, along with other necessities like the store's cash register and sign, according to Kiseau and Capt. Elaine Morales of LAPD Foothill Division.
"All of it, it's all gone," she said. "And I can't get any merchandise right away, I'd have to wait several months to get the merchandise."
Kiseau and her assistant, Omar Olea, parked the truck in front of Olea's house on Herick Avenue and Daventry Street around 11:30 p.m. Sunday, police said.
When the truck was found missing around 8 a.m. Monday, broken glass was spotted on the ground where the car had been parked, according to Det. Tim Tavarez, who investigates auto cases. The thieves were able to break the stainless steel lock on the rolling door at the back of the truck, and a Club steering wheel lock, added Morales.
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Kiseau is offering a $10,000 reward for anyone with information that helps locate the truck and merchandise. Without the truck's contents, it is unlikely she will be able to open the store she already signed a lease for.
Kiseau has about 45 employees that will also be affected if they aren't able to open the business. She had planned to open another store in August.
"It's terrible for them too, they were counting on a job and now the job isn't there for them," Kiseau said. "All of us worked so hard, and we folded everything so carefully... put the stuff in the boxes really nice, and all that work and now it's gone."
The stolen truck is a 2014 1HC International Model 4300, with an Indiana license plate number 216-2272. Anyone with information is asked to call Det. Tavarez at 818-834-3111 during business hours, or can call the LAPD Foothill front desk after hours at 818-756-8861.
