Vandalism at Vancouver businesses takes a bite out of profits
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VANCOUVER, Wash. – Vandals, apparently a couple of kids, smashed windows and broke lights recently at several small businesses, zapping money from an already small profit margin.
"Well, it's gonna be a lot of cups of coffee to get it fixed," said Scott Flury, owner of Latte Da Coffee House and Wine Bar. "You just keep plugging away and you can have fear or faith. And we choose to have faith."
The vandals were caught on surveillance camera at the coffee shop. The damage could add up to several thousand dollars.
Insurance will cover some of it, but it may take hundreds more cups of coffee to make up the difference.
At Prima Bella Salon it's not just the cost of a broken window – worth a half-dozen cuts and colors at least – but stylists can't keep appointments, meaning fewer dollars in their pockets.
But these business owners don't give up that quickly and while they clean up the mess, they look at the bright side.
"They did not get in – just the outside window, but that's a big hole, and that window's quite expensive," said Spring Duplissis, owner of Prima Bella.
The vandals did leave behind a baseball bat used to smash some of the windows. Police have that and are reviewing the surveillance video.
The coffee shop owner is planning to take the video to local schools to see if anybody recognizes the suspects.
HD video cameras. I have them and they really do a great job.
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At the very least HD trail cameras will get really good pictures. Hide them in the bushes.
I called KATU about this yesterday because our dental office had been vandalized by windows getting broken two separate times over a week in Dec. Once I heard our neighbors were getting attacked, we knew something had to be up. I am glad they did the story and hope this scares the little buggers from doing this anymore. Â I hate to see what will happen as they grow older with crime if they don't get caught and reprimanded. Â Hope we can nip this in the bud!
 @dawgs6372 Living in fear is not living... If I was given all the money in every bank in Portland and Vancouver and just sat on top of it. They eyes of the people would open to their own corruption.
 @Michael McWilliams English?  I cannot follow your line of thinking one darned bit. Â
Vandalism is often a sign or symptom of something - like too few playgrounds or too many latch key kids.... but either way, I would like to see them caught and someone pay some repairs. Â
I dunno man. It's not fair when we all are brothers and one person makes 10 bucks an hour and the other makes 30. Regardless of what you do.
 @Michael McWilliams Um coffee and hair stylists?  No one there is making $30 an hour so what line of thinking are YOU enjoying??  And if anyone WAS you think that justifies breaking windows?  Really?
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WHERE ARE THE PARENTS?? AT HOME TEXTING
What a cowardly act.
Looks like a disgruntled women.
 @RandyH You might want to look in your mirror. Or learn to read - caught on camera..."looks like a couple of kids"....keep your little bitter man-opinions out of this ok?  Hardly any vandalism is done by Women, by the way.