Two suspects broke into Elevate Hype and Sport in West Kelowna through the ceiling on Friday.
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September 18, 2021 - 5:25 PM
Two burglars smashed through the ceiling of Elevate Hype and Sport in West Kelowna but they weren’t able to kill the owner's vibe.
“You never know what state of mind other people are in,” owner Stu Foord said. “No one wants to steal, especially not from a local company. So putting myself in their shoes, whatever got them to that position is not good.”
Foord was alerted to a break-in at his shop on Ross Road at around 4 a.m. on Sept. 17. He learned that two suspects gained entry to the store by jimmying their way through the roof.
“The hole they squeezed through was about one foot each way – super small – I’m surprised they got through it,” he said.
The culprits' method for gaining entry into Elevate Hype made them seem experienced.
“Getting in was 10-out-of-10 Mission Impossible style…. They had tools, they had a method, they didn’t just break a window,” Foord said.
READ MORE: Charges laid in traumatic 2017 Vernon robbery where suspect crashed through ceiling
But Foord was less impressed by the rest of the heist. He said the suspects overstepped the more expensive items and stole sizes that aren’t very popular.
“I don’t know if they had a plan about what to take, maybe they were just trying to get into the store for the thrill.”
Fortunately, police were alerted to the break-in quickly enough to spook the suspects. They still managed to flee but dropped many of the stolen goods upon realizing the police were onto them. However some of the recovered items now have grass stains and cannot be sold, he said.
Since Elevate Hype first opened two months ago, Foord said his customers are already worth celebrating. When staff are too busy to be in the store, he trusts his customers to keep a watchful eye on things. The clientele create a safe, protective and chill environment, he said.
“It feels really good to know people care and respect your store like that.”
But it was disheartening to see the damage caused by the break-in. In an area where Foord spent numerous hours paintings and meticulously arranging the layout of the shop, he came to find the ceiling smashed and everything nearby covered in dust.
Nevertheless, Foord sympathizes with the people who feel the need to commit such crimes. He doesn’t want any other business owners to go through what he has and he wants to help those struggling in community to find better ways of dealing with their issues than stealing.
The store was closed on Friday while RCMP investigated and re-opened today, Sept. 18.
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