Talk about kicking someone when they’re down! The pandemic has wreaked havoc on businesses everywhere, including most definitely here in North Dundas. One local business already suffering from lack of clientele since the first lockdown in March 2020 has been dealt another blow.
Sometime between Sunday, January 10, and Thursday January 14, a thief entered the office at Winchester Kennels and stole a breadbox-sized safe. It’s a 0.5 cubic feet coded-entry safe, so the only way into it is through breaking it. The safe held emergency back up cash, and jewelry.
Taunya Van Allen, owner and operator of Winchester Kennels, is a member of our community, a businessperson, and an employer. Aside from her substantial personal loss at an already awful time for businesses, if her business closes, people lose their jobs and income.
The crime was made all the worse by the fact that it was most likely perpetuated by someone who knew Taunya. Taunya was not home at the time of the theft. There were periods of time on those days where staff were also away. Only people who were aware of her friend’s serious illness would have known when the office would be unattended with a safe inside. Nothing else was removed or disturbed. This theft was targeted, and has left Taunya heartbroken, as well as financially bereft.
Taunya asks that you keep your eyes open for any jewelry on kijiji or marketplace, hear of anyone suddenly having a larger-than-usual quantity of cash, or someone needing a sledge hammer, or plasma cutter or tig welder.
The Covid-19 pandemic has already reduced the kennels’ income by 85%. This theft has left the future of the business even more uncertain.
Contact Winchester OPP at 613-774-2603 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477(TIPS)
Here is the link to the GoFundMe page set up by Daniel Tucker for Taunya and Winchester Kennels. Or search Winchester Kennels in the GoFundMe search.
https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-taunya-winchester-kennels?
