A Hayward cellphone repair shop is tallying its losses after three masked men, including at least one armed with a handgun, smashed their way into the store over the weekend and wiped out much of its inventory. Mr. Phone Repair, which opened just three months ago in April, is much more than a sta ndard phone repair shop; the business also sells purses, perfume, and various electronics. Now, it is already dealing with a devastating blow after being burglarized for the second time since its grand opening. Surveillance video captured the determined burglars using a crowbar to break through the store’s double-laminated glass storefront. After multiple attempts, the masked trio breached the entrance early Saturday morning and went right to work. The thieves came prepared with flashlights, bags, and boxes to stuff with the stolen goods. Video shows the armed suspect standing guard. “He had it drawn, finger on the trigger, ready to shoot if anything happened,” store owner Ace Alkabash said. “He was ready.” Alkabash said it is frightening to think about what could have happened had he been there, noting he sometimes falls asleep at the store while repairing phones late into the night. “I would’ve came out for sure just to hear what’s going on,” Alkabash said. “If I would’ve came out, he had the gun pointed at the door, so as I walked out, we don’t know what would have happened.” The burglars made off with thousands of dollars in inventory. “There were PlayStation 5 controllers, Xbox controllers, we had bags from here all the way to here,” Alkabash said, pointing to the empty shelves. “They took everything, they didn’t leave nothing. They left one empty box.” Customers expressed frustration over the incident and the impact on the new business. “It’s just very sad,” Lissette Mendoza said. “It’s sad to hear that people think that’s OK to do, come in, rob, take stuff. How hard is it to go get a job and build your own? It’s not that hard nowadays.” Hayward police said they are actively investigating the break-in, but no arrests have been made. While the financial losses are tough to swallow, Alkabash hopes the criminals are caught and remains determined to stick it out and keep his business going. “Who wants to get robbed? Who wants to get all their stuff taken away from them, you know?” Alkabash said. “Damages by itself are expensive.” ...read more read less