DALE SHUTT

LOCAL JOURNALISM INITIATIVE

 SHAWVILLE – The House of Inspiring Flowers on Victoria Ave. in Shawville was the target of a theft in broad daylight on Wednesday, August 14.

Owner Chelsea Smith, still somewhat shaken, told the Journal: “Around noon, two middle-aged women claiming to be visitors from Italy entered the shop. One of the women purchased an item, but the second woman kept requesting to enter the back room reserved for employees.” The woman then pointed to a particular colour of flower that she said she wanted. Ms. Smith proceeded into the back room to prepare the order and while she was occupied, the other woman reached over the counter and emptied the cash drawer. Both women then left the store abandoning the requested flowers. After waiting a few minutes, Ms. Smith, suspecting they were not intending to return, checked her cash drawer and discovered the theft.

After calling the Sûreté du Quebec (SQ) to report the incident, Ms. Smith discovered that a neighbouring business caught the woman’s car, a black Mazda without any license plates, on their surveillance camera footage.

As of our publication date, the SQ has been unavailable for comment.