Giovanni's restaurant is scene of early morning burglary

One or more suspects broke into a Menifee restaurant early Monday morning and stole cash from a safe, the owner and the Sheriff's Department confirmed.

Deputies responded just after 3 a.m. to Giovanni's Pizza, Pasta and More, located at 26900 Newport Road, said Deputy Robyn Flores. According to owner Tom Powers, police believe there were at least two suspects because broken glass from the front door was tracked in two different directions inside the restaurant.

Powers said the suspects sawed through bolts on a safe and stole an undisclosed amount of cash. He said he arrived to prepare for work as usual just as he was informed of an alarm going off. Discovering the broken front door, Powers said he called 911 and four Sheriff's patrol cars arrived within about a minute and a half.

Deputies cleared the building and the suspects remain at large.

Despite the break-in, Giovanni's is open for business today.