'Society should do better': Vape store owner speaks out after fourth break-in
The owner of Voodoo Vapes in Kitchener, Jay Field, is speaking out after his store was robbed Tuesday morning.
According to Waterloo Regional Police, two unknown suspects gained access and stole merchandise just after 4 a.m.
Security footage from the store shows rocks smashing through a window. A person then jumps inside and grabs a few thousand dollars in products from the shelves.
Security footage from the store shows rocks smashing through a window. (Submitted/Voodoo Vapes)“Went for some of the hardware that we have on our shelves, and they grabbed a couple handfuls of the disposables,” Jay Field, the owner of Voodoo Vapes said. “They don’t take any consideration of what damages they do, and pretty much any time that we’ve had a break-in my damages cost more than actual product loss.”
Since opening his Kitchener location eight years ago, Field said the store has been broken into three times since February 2019. Fields’ other Voodoo Vapes store in Guelph has been hit once.
“The very first time was a really hard pill to swallow. It felt kind of personal, but now after four it’s like, the last time in Guelph I said to the Subway owner, ‘is this your first time?’ he’s like ‘yeah,’ I’m like ‘don’t worry it gets better,’” Field said.
Security footage from Voodoo Vapes in Kitchener. (Submitted/Voodoo Vapes)Field said after an earlier break-in, he put up bars on the front glass door. During this latest break in, thieves entered through a window. Despite not having bars on the windows, Field said he doesn’t want to have to put up any more.
“I don’t want this to look like a jail cell from the inside, that’s not what I want. Society should do better,” Field said.
At Everything Convenience a few doors over from Voodoo Vapes, a worker who’s been there since September said while she’s never seen anything happen on the job, her coworkers have complained of break-ins before.
“I have to always watch out. Especially at night. I don’t feel safe at all,” Ngun Cuai said.
Field said despite the loss, this won’t change how he approaches the business.
Jay Field, the owner of Voodoo Vapes. (CTV News/Colton Wiens)“I’m not going to stop doing business because of some unsavoury type’s man, that’s cutting your nose off to spite your face,” Field said.
Police said the investigation is ongoing and are asking anyone with information to call them.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
From AI running wild to collapsing ecosystems, government report outlines future disruptions
From artificial intelligence running wild to collapsing ecosystems, a new Canadian government report outlines 35 disruptions that could rattle the country in the near future.
B.C. serial killer Robert Pickton hospitalized after prison attack
British Columbia serial killer Robert Pickton was attacked and sustained life-threatening injuries in a Quebec prison Sunday in what officials described as a 'major assault.'
opinion Tom Mulcair: With Trudeau spiralling, Mark Carney waits in the wings
In his latest column for CTVNews.ca, former NDP leader Tom Mulcair argues that if there's an unofficial frontrunner in the eventual race to replace Justin Trudeau as Liberal leader, it has to be former Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney.
Toronto Blue Jays fan struck by 110 m.p.h foul ball offered tickets, signed baseball by team
The Toronto Blue Jays have offered tickets and a signed baseball to a fan who says she was struck in the face by a 110 m.p.h (177 km/h) foul ball at Friday’s game.
Matthew Perry's death is being investigated over ketamine level found in actor's blood, reports say
An investigation has been opened into the death of Matthew Perry and how the “Friends” actor received the anesthetic ketamine, which was ruled a contributing factor in his death.
OPP continues to investigate boat collision north of Kingston, Ont. that left 3 people dead
Ontario Provincial Police continue to investigate a long weekend fatal boat collision on Bobs Lake, north of Kingston, Ont.
Police in Ontario say suspects charged in armed home invasion near Toronto part of 'larger criminal network'
Police in Ontario say a group of suspects charged in an armed home invasion north of Toronto last year were driving a vehicle stolen in a carjacking in Calgary just one month earlier.
Stolen septic truck swerves through traffic, spike belt needed to stop it: Manitoba RCMP
A 29-year-old woman has been charged after police say she stole a septic truck from a Manitoba community and drove erratically on the highway.
Orphan orca's extended family spotted off northeast side of Vancouver Island
Members of a killer whale pod related to an orphan orca calf that escaped a remote British Columbia tidal lagoon last month have been spotted off the northeast coast of Vancouver Island.