Owners Chuck and Liz Ashton of Photo Works in Trail Bay Mall are dealing with a $12,000 loss after thieves smashed their front window and took off with film and digital cameras this week. The thieves broke into the store sometime overnight June 8 after hurling three large rocks through the store's window.
"They must have been in and out pretty quickly because they just took the cameras. They didn't come to the back where our good digital camera is, and they didn't look for our float," said Chuck Ashton.
The cameras stolen were in a glass display case close to the front of the store. The case was also smashed.
"We've taken some remnants of fingerprints from the glass, but at this point we're not sure if they're useable," said Cpl. Barry Meyer of the Sunshine Coast RCMP.
Ashton was considering putting bars up on the large windows in the front of his store shortly before the break-in occurred.
"We were thinking about it, but the cost factor was an issue," said Ashton.
Police say no one heard anything when the actual break-in occurred, but mall employees noticed the broken glass and called police around 7:30 a.m. June 9.
"When I came in, there was shattered glass everywhere," said Ashton.
The store was closed Wednesday as Ashton and employees cleaned up the shards of glass on the floor and in displays.
At press time Ashton was unsure if his insurance would cover the cost of the cameras taken and the broken glass.
"If it's not covered, we're going to have to decide if we can afford to offer cameras for sale anymore. Probably not," he said.
Police ask anyone with information to contact them at 604-885-2266.
