Vape shops beef up security after rash of thefts

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This article was published 06/07/2017 (3232 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Three vape shops in Winnipeg were robbed in the last week, resulting in massive losses.

The frequency of the heists has store owners steaming.

At 2:30 a.m. Wednesday, long after Fat Panda Vape Shop closed its St. Anne’s Road location for the night, a black SUV rammed through the front window and plowed into the lounge area — clearing the way for the theft of electronic cigarette-related merchandise and causing an estimated $10,000 in property damage, shop management said.

Fat Panda director Nelson DeClercq said he was frustrated to hear about the robbery and see the security camera footage — then the news got worse.

An hour after the break-in, the reinforced door of Fat Panda’s Portage Avenue location was smashed with a sledgehammer and DeClercq said roughly $10,000 in damage was done to that property.

He estimated Fat Panda lost tens of thousands of dollars in merchandise at both locations in the span of an hour.

“It’s both frustrating and devastating,” DeClercq said Wednesday. “But everybody’s kind of dealing with the same issues.”

In the past week, Cold Turkey Vape Shop has been the victim of four break-ins (three at its Edmonton Street location and one at its St. Vital store).

On June 26, employees found the window at the Edmonton Street location had been smashed.

It was then boarded up, but Cold Turkey owner Daniel Lofchick said someone tried to pry it open June 28.

The window was replaced a day later, but the replacement window was shattered the following morning.

Lofchick estimated $5,000 worth of merchandise has been stolen from his stores in the past two months, and said he’s seen some of the stolen products circulating around the city for resale.

Cold Turkey stores occupy space on the main floor of condominium towers and the security guard for the building on Edmonton Street scared off thieves during the most recent break-in.

“They’re probably kids who want to make a quick buck,” he said. “We’ll be making security updates, of course.”

Jeremy Loewen, Vape Haven’s co-owner, said his store’s Pembina Highway location was broken into Tuesday and Wednesday.

The first night, the store’s front-door window was destroyed when large stones were thrown through it. The second night, a trailer hitch smashed through the store’s front window.

Loewen estimated about $4,000 in damage was done and some $7,000 worth of merchandise was taken, the bulk of it removed on the second night.

“Last night, they hit us good,” he said Wednesday.

Police are investigating the incidents.

Like Lofchick, Loewen said he’ll be beefing up security.

At Vape Haven’s Watt Street location, there are metal shutters and bars covering the windows.

While those have been effective, Loewen wishes the impending updates at Pembina weren’t necessary.

“It makes it look like a frickin’ prison,” he said.

“I wish these guys would think about what they’re doing… (These robberies) can almost bankrupt small independent companies.”

DeClercq is focused on getting past the damage and stolen merchandise. Fat Panda’s Portage location has been open since March, and the St. Anne’s shop only began doing business in May.

He said the losses are difficult, but he hopes stolen vaping equipment doesn;t get into the hands of children.

“That’s our No. 1 concern.”

Among the three vape companies recently targeted, Fat Panda is the largest, with six Winnipeg locations and six more across Canada.

When asked if Fat Panda will have increased security measures, DeClercq was frank: “We do, as of tonight.”

ben.waldman@freepress.mb.ca