Local optometry business victimized by break and enter

Several pairs of sunglasses were taken from a local optometry business in Prince George during an early-morning break and enter.

Just after 4:30 a.m., Truth North Optometry received a glass-break alert.

Co-owner, Emily Budac believes the motives of those involved are pretty clear.

“There is certainly going to be some Maui Jim sunglasses, some Oakleys, and maybe a Versace frame that might be for sale on Facebook marketplace. I would assume that would be the intention of stealing something like that.”

She added more protective measures may be in order after this incident

“It is making me re-think that maybe we should have some bars on our windows. I am hoping to have something that looks like a quiet, sleepy town with the appearance of wide-open windows but that might not be something I could sustain long-term if this is going to be an ongoing thing.”

“I mean, you hear it regularly from other businesses having their windows broken and products stolen. You kind of know that going into a business downtown and we have been open for just over a year so we have put security measures in place.”

While it’s never good to see merchandise stolen or your front door window shattered, the situation could have been a lot worse.

“I am probably feeling more grateful than anything that the response from our services and businesses were so prompt that we were able to open. I am also feeling grateful that there wasn’t any more vandalism done other than the broken window,” Budac added.

Unfortunately, business break-ins are nothing new in Prince George.

Last month, Jack and Jill Embroidery fell victim to this crime. The incident led to a very frank response from owner Gale Horth after speaking with MyPGNow.com.

“We’ve always had a bit of the downtown issues, but the last five years have just been unbelievable. They poop on your walls, piss on your doorstep, leave needles right wherever you walk.”

Furthermore, police responded to and made arrests on a trio of incidents in early May.

A suspect was arrested by the Prince George RCMP following an incident at a car dealership along the 28-hundred block of Highway 16 West.

Mounties also attended three break and enters in one day last month spanning several locations including the 1700 block of Lyon Street, 2500 block of Moss Avenue as well as Highway 16 and 20th Avenue.

Local police also nabbed a pair of youths on May 3rd after a similar incident at a PG liquor store on the 100-block of Tabor Boulevard.

In an April interview with MyPGNow.com, Cpl. Jennifer Cooper explained why businesses are a prime target for criminals.

“Businesses happen to have a lot of easily movable merchandise in them, which makes them an easy target for break and enters and property crime sprees and that’s what makes them a prime target.”

“And it doesn’t seem to be any particular business. We see break and enters kind of across the board – it doesn’t really matter what the merchandise is or what the business like the retail side might be. Everything seems to be just as likely as the other.”