Hartman Jewellers, a nearly 100-year-old jewellery store in Elmira, Ont., has announced it will permanently close its doors following a costly break-in this summer. The husband-and-wife duo who run the shop cite safety and peace of mind as their primary priorities.
According to CTV News Kitchener, in response to the recent break-in, Waterloo Police charged two local men in August, a 52-year-old and a 46-year-old, with breaking and entering to commit theft. The suspects allegedly entered the store between 3:30 a.m. and 3:45 a.m. on June 18, returning around 4 a.m. in different clothing.
Yet, despite the arrests and the replacement of damaged display cases, Hartman Jewellers’ owners have decided to close the business for good and are currently hosting a liquidation sale.
My heart goes out to the people at Hartman Jewellers. Not only are things getting dangerous, the market for jewellery is very challenging for jewellery retailers. I am sure this will be a big loss of expertise in the local community.
Sad to see this happen. We never hear about thieves getting caught or anything that makes jewellers feel safer. with high insurance costs, exclusions, and stress, it’s no surprise businesses reach their breaking point.