ELKHART — A convicted sex offender said vandals stole money and spray painted references that he was a pedophile outside his pizza shop.
Darren Cornell, who co-owns DC's Pizza in Elkhart with his wife, said he has his suspicions the crime could have been committed by an employee or someone he knows.
Officers are investigating $80 in missing money from the tip jar and the till. Outside there's a shattered window and broken glass, and contrasting paint to cover up letters someone spray painted by the door. While thieves took all of the cash inside the restaurant, none of the equipment inside the restaurant was damaged and a flat-screen TV was not taken.
In front of the building, paint covered up the letters “PEDI.” Cornell said it's short for “pedophile. “
Cornell believes his business was vandalized because he's on the Indiana Sex Offender Registry.
"In my mind it's a hate crime," said Cornell. "I don't feel it be any different if someone came to your house and threw a brick through your window because you're African-American," Cornell said to WSBT-TV.
