CANMORE – A local business owner is offering the individual who broke the lock at their Main Street coffee shop a free coffee if they come forward.
"Sorry, we are not open 24 hours ... We are sure you wanted to have our tasty coffee even through all risks. If you could come forward and confess to us, we will give you free coffee," Canary Coffee Ltd. owner Yoshi Morikawa wrote on social media.
Last Friday (Jan. 3), the Canary Coffee Ltd. shop, located on Main Street in Canmore, had the lock broken on the front door, but nothing else taken or trashed by the suspect or suspects who entered the business.
Canmore RCMP confirmed the incident is under investigation.
"Canary Coffee Shop and Charisma Collections, both on Main Street, were broken into that night and it appears the same person would've been involved in both," Sgt. Stan Andronyk said.
RCMP said cash was taken from the register at Charisma Collections and the Canary Coffee Ltd. owner said the cost to replace the lock was approximately $250.
Morikawa credits the lack of damage and property and monetary loss to proactive measures, such as emptying the cash register and displaying the empty racks on the counter, visible from the storefront window.
As a Canmore business owner for the past two decades, formerly the owner of Chef's Studio for 17 years and current owner of the three-month-old Canary Coffee Ltd., Morikawa wanted to remind business owners that crime happens in every community.
"As a small business owner this happens in Canmore too and we want to encourage safe practices ... we leave the register open and empty and do a night deposit," Morikawa said.
Although the coffee shop owner said he did understand how people love the coffee and would love access to it all hours of the day,
"We joked they tried to come to enjoy our coffee, but we are not open 24-hours," he said with a laugh.
The suspect has yet to claim their free coffee.
