Nearing the end of the planting season, Rupert Lawn & Garden was targeted for a break and enter on Tuesday, Sept. 5.
The alarm to the garden centre in Seal Cove was triggered at 10:20 p.m. when one or more suspects broke in through the sliding glass door. The Prince Rupert RCMP were called to the scene to investigate, but the suspect(s) are still at large. Approximately $200 was stolen from the cash register.
The garden centre closed for a day to clean up and take inventory to inspect if anything else was stolen or damaged.
“It’s really disappointing that someone would choose to target a non-profit social enterprise,” said Blair Mirau, CEO of the Gitmaxmak’ay Nisga’a, a society that provides programs and services to 1,500 Nisga’a citizens in the area.
“Any break and entry is not ideal. We’re confident our security system will identify the culprit,” said Mirau, who added that this is the second time the garden centre was targeted for a break in within the past 12 months.
Prince Rupert RCMP said the investigation is ongoing. Rupert Lawn & Garden will reopen on Thursday, Sept. 7 for business as usual.