'It's terrifying': B.C. business owner fears store being targeted after latest break-in attempt
An attempted break-in to a Metro Vancouver business was caught on camera this weekend, leaving the owner with a terrifying sense of déjà vu.
Taryn Stephenson, who co-owns T’s Once Upon A Tea Leaf in Maple Ridge, was awoken by an alarm at 4 a.m. Sunday warning her of an incident at the shop.
Her security cameras captured what unfolded in video she shared with CTV News.
"A man arrived to our store dressed in black with something sharp – a hammer or a crowbar – in his hand. He tried to smash her front door, was not successful, to smash our front window, not successful," she said.
"He was pretty determined to get in. He was punching it and kicking the window to try and get through and he had a can of something in his hand."
For Stephenson, the video evoked the distressing memory of what happened almost exactly one year ago. On Sept. 21, 2023, someone broke the windows of the store and threw a marine pyrotechnic inside, sending plumes of smoke pouring throughout the premises and covering the entire store and all of its contents in an orange film.
"That destroyed everything that we've worked for for 18 years, from our products to our fixtures, down to the pens and post-it notes. It all had to be thrown away," Stephenson said. "To have something that feels so similar happen again, it's quite scary."
With community support, donations and a lot of hard work the store was able to reopen nine weeks after the reported vandalism, and Stephenson says they have been "hustling" to keep the doors open ever since.
But she doesn’t think they will be able to survive another similarly destructive incident and she can’t shake the suspicion that whoever is responsible is singling out her business. Theft doesn’t appear to be the motive and deploying the smoke bomb seemed like more than just petty, random vandalism.
Stephenson has no idea why her business would be targeted but also says she has no plans of shutting down.
"We're not going to go anywhere, but it's terrifying," she said.
The incidents at the store have been reported to police but no one has been arrested or charged, according to Stephenson, who says she would like investigators to look into whether there are any connections between the incidents.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Poilievre supports Israel 'proactively striking' Iranian nuclear sites to defend itself
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is supporting Israel's right to defend itself against Iran following last week's ballistic missile attack, saying that right includes 'proactively striking Iranian nuclear sites and oil installations to defund the terrorist regime.'
Hurricane Milton strengthens into a Category 5 storm. Florida orders evacuations
Florida's storm-battered Gulf Coast raced against a Category 5 hurricane Monday as workers sprinted to pick up heaps of appliances and other street debris left over from Helene two weeks ago and highways were clogged with people fleeing ahead of the storm.
'Selfish billionaire': Chip Wilson's mansion vandalized after political sign erected outside
Days after a political sign was erected outside Lululemon founder Chip Wilson's Vancouver mansion, the waterfront property has been vandalized with graffiti.
'Feel free to get naked,' witness testifies Toronto councillor told her during 'networking' weekend
Toronto Coun. Michael Thompson 'forced himself on' a woman who awoke to find him standing over her after she fell asleep drunk, the Crown alleged Monday, as the five-day sexual assault trial of the six-term politician began in Bracebridge, Ont.
Is Disney World still open as Hurricane Milton strengthens to a Category 5?
Despite Hurricane Milton evolving into a Category 5 storm, Walt Disney World Resort remains open to the public and will operate as normal. However, the park announced Monday a few closures in an abundance of caution.
Disgraced former Winnipeg football coach sentenced to 20 years in prison for sexual assault
A disgraced Winnipeg high school football coach convicted of sexual assault and luring will spend 20 years behind bars.
Two people injured in apparent road rage incident, shooting in Toronto
Two people are in hospital after they were chased and shot at in what appears to be an act of road rage before eventually flipping their car while trying to escape, police say.
Sammy Basso, longest living survivor of rare rapid-aging disease progeria, dies at 28
Sammy Basso, who was the longest living survivor of the rare genetic disease progeria, has died at the age of 28, the Italian Progeria Association said on Sunday.
Prayers, protests and police as Canada marks anniversary of Oct. 7 Hamas attack
With prayers, protests, and a heavy police presence, Canada has marked the anniversary of the Oct. 7, 2023, attack by Hamas on Israel that killed about 1,200 people and triggered an ongoing war.