Nicolas and Marie-héléne Kynigos, owners of Nicolas & Marie’s Pizza, Pasta and Donair on 27 Street in Vernon.

(CHARLOTTE HELSTON - REPORTER / iNFOnews.ca)

VERNON - A local business that offered a job to the person responsible for a series of break-ins has been hit again.

Nicolas & Marie’s Pizza, Pasta and Donair on 27 Street was broken into for the fourth time last night, owner Nicolas Knyigos says.

“Enough is enough,” Knyigos says.

He and wife Marie-hélene were woken up by the alarm company around 12:30 a.m. today, April 18, he says.

Damage done on April 18, 2018.

Image Credit: Marie-hélene Knyigos

Once again, the culprit used a rock to shatter the glass and force entry into the pizza shop. Six dollars from a donation jar for a local fundraiser was the only thing taken, Knyigos says.

The three previous break-ins were much the same, all involving a rock thrown through the window and small amounts of cash taken. Knyigos says the resulting damage is in the thousands of dollars.

During last night’s incident, Knyigos says a resident who lives across the street heard a loud bang and looked outside to see a lone man, wearing gloves, leaving the pizza shop on foot.

A police dog team arrived to trace the suspect, but were unsuccessful, Knyigos says.

Vernon RCMP spokesperson Const. Kelly Brett says officers are working hard to get to the bottom of the break-ins.

“It’s concerning,” Brett says. “You feel bad for the business, especially a local, small business. We’re working hard on trying to put the puzzle pieces together and finding out why they’re being targeted. They’re great to work with and have been cooperative (with police).”

Nicolas’ wife Marie-hélene says at this point, it’s difficult to think the break-ins are random, and not some personal attack on their business.

“I don’t now who, I don’t know why,” she says. “It’s really terrible.”

Anyone with any information is asked to contact the Vernon North Okanagan RCMP at 250-545-7171. You may also remain anonymous by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477, or leaving a tip online here.

To contact a reporter for this story, email Charlotte Helston or call 250-309-5230 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.

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News from © iNFOnews, 2018