GUELPH -- The Guelph Police Service is investigating a break-in that caused an estimated $28,000 in damage to two businesses in the city's west end.
It happened late Wednesday night at a plaza on Silvercreek Parkway North near Willow Road.
One of those businesses was the Silvercreek Animal Hospital.
"It's disheartening that you get broken into, especially around Christmas time," said owner Tamara Beckstead.
She was shocked to see the mess left behind.
"Drywall, insulation, broken tiles. And then all the tools of their trade they left here as well, like their sledgehammers, crowbars, saws and their garbage bags."
"There was break into the maintenance room, which is part of the plaza, and from there a suspect or suspects broke through a cinderblock wall," said Scott Tracey, the media relations coordinator for Guelph Police.
They then gained access to the animal hospital, before smashing five holes through another wall to get into the next door business.
"They were clearly just using us a conduit to get into our neighbour's smoke shop," said Beckstead.
Police said the thief or thieves weren't able to get inside Willow Smoke and Cigar, but they did reach through the holes and stole some products.
"Approximately $8,000 worth of products were stolen from the second business," said Tracey. "Perhaps the larger issue is the amount of damage."
The cost to repair the maintenance room and both businesses is estimated at more than $28,000.
Beckstead is thankful that nothing was stolen at the animal hospital, but said she'll be looking at installing a security system.
