KILLEEN, Texas — A burglary at a vape shop on Saturday, Feb. 24 was captured on security footage. The owner is frustrated and says this is something that happens too often in Killeen.
At AAA Strate Vape in Killeen, security camera footage caught what appears to be two boys breaking in the shop at 4:30 in the morning.
"They broke the front door with the rock," owner Melanie Crochet said. "They smashed all our registers, stole one of the registers, disposables and vape juice."
This behavior is no shock to Crochet.
"We have been broken into, since Dec. 23, three times in different locations," Crochet said.
Crochet says this is almost the norm for vape shop owners across the city.
"This has happened so much," Crochet said. "There are people that are actually sleeping in their shops, waiting for these kids to come because they're hitting every one of the vape stores."
It seems like nothing can be done.
"Police officers are very frustrated as well because they're constantly arresting the same people because the city officials let them back out," Crochet added. "We need to do something because it's going to ruin these kids' lives or they're going to get shot."
Crochet and other businesses are left taking matters into their own hands.
"We'll be getting bars this week," Crochet said. "It's sad that businesses have to put bars up just to keep this from happening."
All in hopes, the kids will stop.
"The life of crime is not the way to go," Crochet said. "If you want to make some money, do something for your community to make money. If you're too young to, go out and mow yards, go do something productive instead of destroying other businesses and making us look bad and costing us money."
She is urging the city to step up to the plate.
"I hope that the city officials in Killeen will do their job and stand up to these children," Crochet said.
For now, Crochet says the investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information can contact Killeen Police.
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