A Sooke electronics repair and retail business says a recent wave of break-ins has left it struggling to stay afloat, with the owner reporting about $30,000 in combined inventory loss and property damage over the past six weeks.
Alexander Kingston, owner of Gadget Tree, said the store has been targeted four to five times since early April in what he described as a fast-moving series of break-ins, thefts and vandalism that have become increasingly difficult to prevent.
“It’s getting to the point where I’m meeting police about one incident, and another one happens right after,” Kingston said. “They’re all kind of blurring together now.”
According to Kingston, the incidents have included smashed windows, forced entry attempts and, in one case, an attempted arson that damaged the store’s front entrance.
In relation to that incident, police are seeking a male suspect described as slim, approximately 5-foot-10, wearing green-grey pants and Nike running shoes. Anyone with information is asked to come forward.
He said intruders have taken laptops, gaming computers and other electronics, while some attempts were unsuccessful but still caused significant damage.
In one instance, Kingston said a suspect used a tool to try to force entry before escalating to an attempt to burn through the storefront, which caused fire damage before the individual fled. In another, a hammer was thrown through the front window during a break-in.
He said the financial impact includes roughly $20,000 in stolen inventory and about $10,000 in repairs, including damaged doors and windows. Kingston added that rising insurance deductibles and repeated claims are adding further strain.
“You start adding three, four, five break-ins in a month, and the deductible alone becomes more than rent,” he said.
Kingston also expressed frustration about the limitations of investigations, saying surveillance footage and tracking devices have not always been enough to recover stolen goods or identify suspects in a way that meets legal thresholds.
“They’re very professional,” Kingston said of the RCMP. “But there’s just nothing they can do in some situations, and it keeps happening.”
The RCMP confirmed they have responded to multiple incidents at the business in recent months.
Staff Sgt. Greg Willcocks said police have received three calls for service related to the store, including break and enters and an attempted arson incident. He said investigations are ongoing.
Willcocks also noted a broader rise in property crime in the Sooke area, pointing to a roughly 25 per cent increase in mischief-related calls between 2024 and 2025.
“We are seeing more calls for service and an increase in property crime overall,” he said.
Kingston said the repeated incidents are beginning to threaten the future of his business, which has built a steady local customer base.
“Eventually, we’re going to end up leaving Sooke,” he said. “I can’t keep getting victimized and just absorb it.”
Despite the losses, Kingston said community support has helped keep the business going, with some customers choosing to visit specifically to show support following the break-ins.
Still, he said the long-term outlook remains uncertain unless the pattern changes.
“The hope is things will improve,” he said. “But right now, it feels like it’s getting worse.”