String of robberies rattle Morris shop owners

Morris RCMP are investigating robberies at three Morris businesses in the span of a week, with thieves returning to one business twice and robbing another all on the same day.

One of the shops robbed on Aug. 11 was the Morris MCC Thrift Store. Morris RCMP were called to the shop after three people smashed the thrift store’s door at 1:30 a.m. and stole nearly $2,000 worth of goods, said RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Melanie Roussel.

A couple hours later, a woman was seen on security cameras at 4 a.m. breaking into the thrift store’s shed, but nothing of value was stolen.

That same day at 11:14 a.m., a woman broke into George’s Burgers & Subs, less than 80 metres away from the thrift store, and stole frozen food from the freezer. Frozen food, along with cash, was also stolen on Aug. 8 from the restaurant.

Bloom’in Scents, a Morris florist shop, was also robbed Aug. 5 and $700 worth of product was stolen.

While it’s unclear if the robberies at all three businesses are connected, Roussel said police believe it was the same woman who robbed both the thrift store and the restaurant. The investigation is ongoing, she said.

The volunteers are now more cautious and scared when coming to work, said Richard Ewen, manager at the thrift store. Some of the items stolen included a box-set of The Baby-Sitters Club novels, two Dewalt drills and a tablet. The thieves also stole jewelry from the display case and a Coke-branded mini fridge.

“It’s just a very weird bunch of stuff,” said Ewen.

When he checked the cameras after the robbery, Ewan recognized some of thieves as people who have caused problems at the store before.

“I just don’t think these people care. I believe there’s probably drugs involved some way, and they just need something to sell,” Ewen said. “I don’t think they have much moral issues.”

Besides the robbery, he’s seen a rise in shoplifting at the store. But it’s rare for him to catch someone in time before they leave, he said. Some even walk right past him after he confronts them.

Since the town is so small and tight-knit, Ewen said it quickly becomes common knowledge who is committing crimes in the area.

“They’re pretty fed up because I feel that most people know in town who it is, but the police are unable to do anything about it until they have some hard evidence,” he said.

The thrift store will have to replace the smashed window and the security cameras the thieves destroyed. Ewen will be investing in more cameras, thicker doors and a new alarm system.