WATCH: Chadbourne Tavern Vandalized

SAN ANGELO, TX — One male suspect, apparently a vandal and a burglar, broke into the Chadbourne Tavern bar Friday afternoon. The thief’s actions were recorded on security cameras. bar owner Fernando Fuentez said police are working the case.

The Chadbourne Tavern, 115 S. Chadbourne St., like all bars in San Angelo without a restaurant add-on, has been closed since Governor Abbott ordered bars closed on June 26 at noon. This was the second time bars were closed in response to the coronavirus. Bars and restaurants were first closed March 20 and re-opened with reduced capacity orders on May 22.

Some bars that have kitchens have been able to open by mid-July by reclassifying their liquor license to include food with beverage. Bars like the Chadtav don’t have a kitchen or the option to reclassify and re-open.

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Above: The suspect who broke into the Chadbourne Tavern in San Angelo on Friday, August 7, 2020. (Security Camera Footage)

The would-be burglar managed to steal a bag of chips. “We don’t have any money in there. What kind of money would we have? We’ve been ordered shuttered since the end of June!” Fuentez said.

After climbing onto the back balcony of the popular bar’s second story, the suspect is videoed breaking down the back door. Once inside he helped himself to a bag of tortilla chips. Fuentez said he also vandalized the interior, to include smashing some full liquor and beer bottles.

“Thursday we had just re-stocked the beer fridge. Full inventory,” Fuentez said. The full coolers require ChadTav to run up a fairly expensive monthly electric bill.

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Above: An example of the vandalized interior of Chadbourne Tavern. This is the door leading out onto the front side balcony. (Video Camera Footage)

Fuentez said a police report has been filed and he hopes publicizing the video and photos will encourage either witnesses or someone who can identify the suspect to come forward.

“We’ve got to do something,” Fuentez said. “The shutdown is getting really expensive for all of us. We need to get back to being opened. Now this?”

Fuentez said the suspect broke into ChadTav at 4:30 p.m. on Friday, August 7.

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