A West Kelowna business owner urges other business owners to maintain their security systems and insurance after a shoplifting rash and eventual break-in.
Angela O’Brien, owner of Esteem Lingerie, said she had never seen anything important in the business’s 15-year history, but that changed after a spike in shoplifting from the fall and finally a break-in on December 9th.
She said that around 5 a.m., her security company told her that the police were there because the store had been broken into and the alarms had been triggered.
O’Brien said that because they had a good alarm system, the suspects could only take 70 pairs of panties and about 30 items of clothing and other items with them. She said they also tried going through the cash drawer but couldn’t find much.
“It was quite a shock to come here and see two police cruisers and the door basically got thrown open,” she said.
“Scary, the stolen items were the same items and sizes that were stolen in the past.”
She said the break-in could have been worse if there wasn’t a good security system in place. O’Brien said she wants to share her story to encourage other small businesses in the area to hang on to their alarms and cameras.
“When things get tight, look at your spending and see what you can save. During difficult times, some companies try to let go of this insurance or monitoring contract. But maybe you keep this insurance policy. “
“But that’s exactly what has eased the situation for us and will help us stay open,” she said
O’Brien added that despite the shoplifting and break-in, she was encouraged by the community’s response to the incident.
“The incredible local business that we needed to get safe and up and running was immediately behind us.”
“Yes, it was terrible and it makes me sad that it happened, but it also showed me what our community can do,” she said.
West Kelowna RCMP said they had conducted an investigation but had not yet identified any suspects.
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Twila Amato
Video journalist, Black Press Okanagan
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