Local restaurant broken into twice in one week

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. —  Montana’s BBQ in Fort St. John has been broken into twice in the past week, and the local RCMP is looking into who may be responsible.

Montana’s owner, Darren Thomas, said on October 24th, just before 6:00 a.m., two people had broken the double-layered, laminated glass door and entered the business, triggering all the alarms.

“They went in and wandered around in there with the alarms blazing, and obviously, the police and I were on our way down, and they were gone before we arrived,” Thomas said.

On this occasion, nothing appeared to have been taken.

Seven days later, around 2:15 a.m., someone broke the glass door again and took three or four open liquor bottles. The suspects were gone before Thomas and the police arrived.

Thomas said police believe on October 24th, a male and a female had entered the property, while on October 31st, it was only a male based on what was found at the scene each time.

The latest break-ins aren’t the first time the windows were broken in 2023.

In the spring, Thomas said someone tried to break in, but because of the type of glass, they gave up after only being able to puncture a quarter-sized hole in one of the layers of glass.

He reported the incident to police, but since the suspect didn’t gain entry, Thomas had to replace the window. 

The business owner said when the window is broken, they must replace the whole pane, which is $1,000 each time.

“The industry that I’m in has been really rough over the last few years, and we’re all just trying to make ends meet and keep our doors open,” Thomas said.

“Then you get these unexpected expenses that you have no choice but to deal with, and it just throws the balance off.”

Anyone with any information on the break-ins can contact the Fort St. John RCMP at 250-787-8140.

To remain anonymous, Crime Stoppers can be contacted at 1-800-222-8477, or a tip can be submitted online at www.northernbccrimestoppers.ca.