A Franklin smoke shop has fallen victim to burglaries twice in a one-month span, with the most recent break-in occurring early this past Sunday. The Moonlight Smoke Shop, less than a year in business, experienced similar crimes in February when thieves shattered a window and swiftly cleaned out merchandise. NBC Boston reported that the perpetrators used a metal bar to break into the store and made off with about 50 disposable vapes and vaporizer devices during each incident.
According to CBS Boston, the co-owner Hardik Patel is shaken by these events, which have struck a blow to the fledgling business. "Kind of, like, discouraging to us," Patel said in an interview with NBC Boston. He detailed how they were "barely starting to do a little better in business, and this happens - not once, but twice." Despite the setback, Patel hopes to continue growing the business, intending to use the lost funds to expand and hire more employees.
The pattern of the burglaries poses a disturbing trend, as the shop was hit twice on a Sunday, with the latest breach occurring at 7 a.m., just as the first break-in. "It's like our first shop, and we work really hard for this to get the name up in the town," Patel told CBS Boston. The shop was slated to celebrate its one-year anniversary next month, hoping to have already established a strong foothold within the community.
Franklin Police have arrested three juveniles in connection with the February burglary at Patel's shop, and they are continuing to investigate the March incident. Patel reports over $18,000 in losses and damages due to the break-ins. "They know how long it takes for the cops to get here, so they are in and out in a couple minutes. Not minutes, like seconds - like 40 or 50 seconds," Patel told NBC Boston. The thieves' brazen disregard for being seen by others adds to the frustration for law enforcement and local businesses alike.
As the investigation continues, Patel remains determined to move past these discouraging setbacks. Anyone with information on the crime is encouraged to reach out to the local police, as the community and the authorities work together to prevent future incidents and to hopefully bring those responsible to justice.
