Owen Sound River District Store Target of Overnight Theft & Vandalism
The front door at Zong on 9th St East lies shattered on the sidewalk this morning and the shop's interior has suffered extensive damage after a break-and-enter overnight.
A downtown business owner has his work cut out for him today after discovering his shop on 9th St East in the River District was broken into, burglarized, and vandalized overnight.
Asif Khan, owner of the Zong vaporizer and smoke shop, shared photos with The Owen Sound Current showing significant damage to his storefront, shelves, and stock. The front door was smashed and stripped of its glass.
Khan said security footage he has since shared with police indicates the perpetrators entered his store at approximately 3:45 a.m. and stayed inside wreaking havoc for nearly two hours.
While there is no estimate of damages yet, Khan said it will be a total loss and has caused catastrophic damage to his business.
“Because of the very bad winter conditions and bad business conditions, I stopped my insurance a few months ago to cover the expenses of my business,” Khan told us.
Community members can make a donation to support Khan’s business recovery through the GoFundMe platform.
Owen Sound Police Service has not yet released a report on the incident, but anyone with information can submit it by contacting them at (519) 376-1234.
Tips can be provided anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or submitted online at www.cstip.ca. Those who provide information may be eligible for a reward of up to $2,000.
Editor’s Note: An earlier version of this article characterized the break-in as a robbery. However, the legal definition of a robbery in Canada involves violence or threat of violence, which does not apply in this case. It has been properly characterized as a theft and break-in.