Prineville business owner takes to social media after burglary

Two Prineville businesses are out hundreds of dollars after being the victims of burglaries on the same day last week, but that police believe were not connected.

Heidi Wood, the owner of Sears Hometown at Ochoco Plaza on NE Third Street in Prineville, told NewsChannel 21 Tuesday the suspect or suspects entered through an unlocked back door in the building and broke into the store through another door.

The burglary happened last Thursday, when the business was closed. Wood believes more than one person committed the crime.

They took off with several high-priced power tools and tried to break into a cash register.

Wood is out $25,000 and is now relying on social media to find the people who broke into her store.

“The community needs to understand that we have a problem in this community — it’s not just our store,” Wood said. “Our store is just speaking out and trying to get some resolution to a problem in the city. “

“There have been other businesses that have been broken into, they’re are plenty of cars that are being broken into. I think getting the message out there, you’re telling the community that we as a community have to come together to make this stop,” Wood added.

Sears was not the only business targeted that day.

Gee’s Family Restaurant on NW Second Street also was hit, and the suspect there took hundreds of dollars from the ATM machine. It’s the second time the restaurant’s been burglarized in just a month.

Police said they believe the crimes at the two Prineville businesses last Thursday are not connected

Wood is offering a $500 reward to anyone who has information on who broke into her store.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Prineville Police Department at 541-447-4168.