Group of smash-and-grab robbers ransack Montclair sneaker store

A Monclair sneaker store owner's frustration skyrocketed after smash-and-grab robbers hit his store once again Wednesday afternoon.

The thieves were in and out of the shop within 30 seconds. Aydan Milton was the only employee working when the group started ripping items off the shelves and knocking over display cases. 

"I just got bombarded with 9-10 people," Milton said. "They go, 'Hey, smash it.' They pushed the glass case like this down."

The entire robbery was caught on security video. Ryan Higuera has owned the shop, the Galleria Monclair, for the last four years. 

"We need to catch these thieves," he said. "They're targeting small businesses that they know are understaffed. They know if they send in nine, 10, 11 people there's not much more we can do."

Higuera said this is the third time his store has been robbed in the last month. He estimated his losses to be above $20,000.

"This last time was the biggest time," he said. "They definitely took over $10,000 worth of things."

Higuera said he wants to close the gate and limit the number of shoppers inside but the mall, Montclair Place, won't let him. 

"I'm probably going to have to spend extra thousand of dollars just to get a security guard in here until my lease is over," he said. "After that, I'm gonna have to find a new location. Selling clothes and shoes is not worth our life."