Marcus Books in Oakland, Calif., was burglarized Sunday night, KRON4 reported.
At around 9 p.m., a man broke the bookstore's window with a piece of asphalt, stole four hardcover books from the window display, and walked away. Marcus Books co-owner Blanche Richardson told KRON4 that the four books were worth about $150, while the cost to repair the window will run about $1,200. A piece of stained glass art, given to Richardson by her brother and co-owner, Billy, was also damaged.
The thief took nothing else, and Richardson noted that based on the surveillance footage, the man "doesn't appear to be drunk or on drugs or homeless." She added: "It really makes me angry, because it's so senseless and expensive."
The damaged window has been boarded up, and the owners hope to replace it before the start of the holiday shopping season. The bookstore has been burglarized before: during a break-in six months ago, electronics were stolen and the store was vandalized.
Founded in San Francisco in 1960, Marcus Books is said to be the oldest Black bookstore in the country. Per KRON4, Richardson and her family are working on reopening the San Francisco location.