PELHAM BUSINESS THANKFUL FOR SUPPORT AFTER BREAK-IN

FASHION FLIP TARGETED BY THIEVES OVERNIGHT ON JAN. 13

The owners of Fashion Flip are grateful for the support offered by the community after they had discovered their Pelham business had been broken into.

When Maxwell Park and Jennifer Genet arrived at the Pelham Street consignment clothing store on Jan. 14, they noticed that the glass front door had been removed.

"They very thoughtfully left it leaning up against the counter," Genet said. "You couldn't tell until you came up to the door that it was missing."

Clothing being sold on behalf of customers was left untouched. Some jewelry, however, was missing and a newly purchased POS (point of sale) system was taken.

"It was not even set up," Park said of the POS system, which included an iPad and computer. "They were interested in all the technology stuff."

The store had to close for a few days as a result. It reopened on Jan. 17, but there was little in the way of business that the mother and son could do without a POS system. A new temporary system is up and running, and Fashion Flip was back in business the following day.

"At first, it was a little off-putting, disheartening," Genet said. "But the community really reached out on social media. People came by the store to show their support."

Fashion Flip only opened its doors last June and the store, which sells higher-end women's clothing by consignment, was just getting off the ground, so the support being shown by the community is helping Genet and Park move on from the incident.

"They've been so encouraging," Genet said.

"We're thankful for that."

Park, meanwhile, said the break-in came as a shock.

"Fonthill is such a quiet community," he said.

Niagara Regional Police (NRP) media relations officer Const. Phil Gavin said the break-in remains under investigation by members from 3 District (Welland). Anyone with information is asked to contact the NRP at 905-688-4111, ext. 1023300.

The NRP has tips for businesses to safeguard their premises, including using bright security lighting with motion detectors, ensuring all doors and windows are illuminated after dark and installing solidcore doors on all exterior doors with deadbolt locks and peep holes if there is no window.