Authorities in Danvers and Saugus, Massachusetts, are on the hunt for suspects following a pair of smash-and-grab burglaries at local smoke shops. The break-ins occurred early Sunday morning with both establishments suffering significant losses. According to NBC10 Boston, the City Smoke Shop in Danvers was the first to be hit when three masked men reportedly reversed an automobile into the storefront on Route 114, swiftly grabbing cigarettes and tobacco.
As described by the owner of the City Smoke Shop to NBC10 Boston, the assailants left behind a scene with shattered glass strewn about, a compromised door, and a damaged brick wall, the crime scene reflected a certain desperation. The vehicle used in the burglary was later found abandoned at the DoubleTree Hotel. Approximately half an hour later, Vapor Zone in Saugus suffered a similar fate, with thieves utilizing a car jack to break in, as reported by WCVB. The suspects were partly captured on surveillance video helping themselves to a bounty of tobacco products estimated to be worth between $6,000 and $7,000.
In statements obtained by local news outlets, the shop owners expressed their frustration and disbelief at the audacity of these crimes. "They drove a car in for cigarettes and tobacco, it’s crazy" one shop owner shared with 7NEWS. Khurram Agha, the owner of Vapor Zone, lamented to WCVB about the repeated targeting of his store, saying, "It’s just crazy. They break in and we lose thousands of dollars."
Both shop owners are calling on the public to examine the footage closely and to step forward with any information that might aid in identifying the perpetrators. The coordinated nature of these crimes against small businesses evokes an unsettling pattern, suggesting that these establishments are increasingly seen as soft targets by those looking to profit from quick, high-stake heists.
