Some of the damage at Harry Ritchie’s in Chehalis after a truck drove through the front window on Feb. 11. The photo was taken after the windows were boarded up.
Mark Pendleton, manager of Harry Ritchie’s in Chehalis, stands by the boarded up wall where a truck shatterted the windows during a burglary the morning of Feb. 11.
Nobody wants a truck to come crashing through the front of their business and to have thousands of dollars worth of merchandise stolen. But the staff at Harry Ritchie’s Jewelers in Chehalis seem to be taking it in stride.
The store was open the day after the incident — which happened in the early morning hours Feb. 11, long before the store would be open for business that day.
A dramatic surveillance video of the event shows cabinets and glass being violently jolted from their resting places as the truck makes its grand entrance. Images showed the aftermath of debris lying strewn across the entire store.
Mark Pendleton, the store’s manager, told The Chronicle that glass was scattered all across the showroom.
The person stole, police said, just over $17,000 in merchandise.
Numerous agencies, businesses and individuals lent a hand in the aftermath — people Pendleton dubbed “heroes.” They include the woman working the graveyard shift at a nearby business who saw the incident and called the police at around 3 a.m.
Pendleton said he was notified that something was amiss by the alarm company, which detected movement in the store. When he showed up, the damage had already been done, and police were there taking photos of the damage and the tire tracks left in the snow.
Police recommended Pendleton call the number 1-800-BOARDUP — which had someone at the place within a couple hours to put boards over the gaping hole in the front of the business.
MDK Construction came later that day to help clear up the debris and make the place presentable again — including a paint job on the boards outside. The wall is now a shade of pink with the words “We Are Open” and a heart. Customers thought it was Valentine’s Day marketing, said Pendleton, rather than a response to damage.
“And we did end up having an incredibly amazing Valentine’s Day, helping guests get all those needs that they needed,” Pendleton said.
When the car drove through the window, an individual is seen on the surveillance footage. The person grabbed two portable cases containing watches and beads for bracelets. For insurance and security purposes, 75 percent or more of all merchandise is locked up in a safe every night, said Pendleton. So whoever did it didn’t have much of a selection to choose from.
Nowadays, all their merchandise is locked up after hours, said Pendleton. Additionally, they’re looking at buying more cameras, lights and maybe some concrete poles at front to keep vehicles from getting too close.
The Chehalis Police Department got ahold of the video and is currently investigating.
Police say that a caller alerted them that a truck had been sitting running for about five hours near First Street and Scott Place. The truck had been stolen earlier that morning from the city of Centralia, and belonged to the water department. It has since been determined to be the one used in the burglary.
Pendleton told The Chronicle that, despite the unfortunate incident, everything is moving smoothly, with support from the chain’s owner and the agencies that helped repair the place.
“We’re very happy to be in a community that supports us,” he said.
