CYPRESS — Thieves broke into a company van belonging to Joe the Plumber on Jarvis Road in the Cole’s Crossing area of Cypress early Wednesday morning. Surveillance video captured a suspect smashing a van window, causing the vehicle’s lights to flash, before removing items from inside.

Luis Villarreal, vice president of Joe the Plumber, discovered the break-in when he arrived to open the shop Wednesday morning. “I came around the front of the building, noticed the broken glass, and started looking around.” Broken glass was still visible around the van days after the break-in.

Villarreal estimated that more than $20,000 worth of plumbing equipment was stolen, not including vehicle damage. “That was a hard impact. It was a really hard impact, because now, we’re having to start over, recuperate those tools. We have to pay again to get these tools.” Surveillance images show one suspect clearly, and a second person may have also been on the property.

The Harris County Sheriff’s Office confirmed it is investigating the theft and searching for those responsible. The agency’s Burglary and Theft Division can be contacted at 713-274-9200 with information about the theft.