‘They were coming for one thing’: Richmond food market robbed of over $2,000 in tobacco products
VENN
RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — Thousands of dollars worth of product were stolen during a Wednesday morning burglary at a family-owned Carytown food market.
According to the Richmond Police Department, at approximately 5:18 a.m. on Wednesday, April 2, two suspects broke into a locked business and stole more than $2,000 worth of tobacco products.
8News was able to confirm that the business involved was Sunny's Food Market.
Authorities said the individuals were able to get away, but were captured on the store's surveillance camera.
(Photos: Richmond Police Department)
Surveillance video shows the two suspects going through the front door of the market by breaking the screen. The two then enter the business and steal the tobacco products.
"They're a staple to the community," said Rell Lewis, a frequent customer. "It's just crazy to know someone in the community would do that to them."
Sarry Banissa, the son of Sunny Food Market's owner, told 8News that the store is no stranger to robbery, as it was robbed two years ago. At that time, multiple items were taken.
In the case of Wednesday's incident, Banissa believes those involved knew what they wanted.
"They didn't take any money, they didn't take any of our THC products, they didn't take any of our vapes — they knew they were coming for one thing and one thing only, and that was for the tobacco product, and it was specifically Newports," Banissa said. "Newports are known to be ... they're around $95 a carton, and if you go up north, you can easily sell them for $120 [or] $130 a carton."
Banissa told 8News the shelves had already been stocked with new products for the month.
He said he's thankful the security camera put in place was able to capture the incident, adding that he will be fixing the market's front gate to provide greater security.
Despite this setback, Banissa said he is not worried andhe continues to trust in the overall community.
"I've always come to these stores with my father," Banissa said. "He's always been a business owner since I've been a kid — and, I mean, I put my faith in God, too, so I don't think I'd ever be worried about anything."
Police told 8News no progress has been made in this investigation. Detectives are asking for the public's assistance in identifying the suspects.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Third Precinct Detective D. Holmes at (804) 646-1165.
