Surveillance camera footage of the break-in has been widely circulated (and can be seen on The Valley Reporter’s website valleyreporter.com). What is noteworthy about the video is the speed, violence and precision with which the three perpetrators move.
In the video, the door breaks open and pieces of wood fly into the showroom. The three masked thieves enter and spread out in the store with two helping themselves to the contents of a display case while one works on a locked door to a store room. That door yields after a second looter joins the first in trying to pry it open.
When that door is pried open, all three enter and exit moments later with heavily laden bags and leave the building – all in 42 seconds.
When this happens to one business in our community it happens to all the businesses in our community, literally and figuratively.
Small Dog Electronics is an important member of the business community. It is a family-owned business whose owners provide good jobs and contribute to The Valley at many levels.
Small Dog carries merchandise that might be considered more attractive and enticing than what other businesses in town carry, but that doesn’t make this affront any more palatable.
It is not reasonable to suppose that Small Dog should need a security guard – armed or otherwise. Nor is it reasonable to suppose that any local business might need a full-time security service.
If we can’t create a business climate that is safe for this company, how can we ensure that The Valley is safe for any company?
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