Prajukta Ghosh
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV)– A Downtown St. Joseph business, Hooks N’ Heifers, is recovering after a break-in earlier this week.
What began as a normal day quickly changed when staff noticed something unusual about the store’s window blinds.
Upon closer inspection, staff discovered several holes in the window and realized the shop had been broken into, with multiple items stolen.
Sales Associate Maddy Milliken said employees waited for the store owner to arrive before assessing the full extent of the damage.
“It was just kind of a crazy day, nothing we ever expected would happen before. Just that it sucked,” Milliken said.
After the discovery, the staff filed a police report and boarded up the damaged window.
Despite the incident, Milliken said the experience highlighted the need for stronger security measures moving forward.
“Hopefully, this is a learning process for everyone in town, so nothing crazy like this ever happens to them because everyone really works hard for what they have in life,” Milliken added.
Milliken said, despite the unfortunate event, the community has shown strong support, with customers and representatives reaching out to ensure the store can remain open and stocked.
“We are not asking for money. We are just asking for prayers and just share the word of what happened so it doesn’t happen again to anybody else,” Milliken said.
Store Owner Daniel Lomax said receiving the call from his staff left him feeling violated.
Lomax said local businesses work hard to serve the community, and incidents like this can be deeply unsettling.
“It really kinda hits hard. I have been in the business for five years, and we have had the store for a little over a year and a half now, and I have never had anything being stolen out of the store,” Lomax said.
He noted that while the possibility of a break-in is always in the back of a business owner’s mind, it’s something many don’t expect to happen to them.
“The only thing I will say is that for other companies that are out there, take this as a learning curve and up your security since that’s the biggest thing,” Lomax said.
Since the incident, Hooks N’ Heifers has installed additional security cameras and is focused on moving forward with optimism and support from the community.
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The patio area in front of Vons in La Quinta where the puppies were abandoned.
