Owner Mike Sweeney of Sweeney’s Clothing in Soldotna did not expect to be back at his store early Christmas morning, but arrived minutes after police notified him that someone had broken in.
The security system alerted Soldotna Police at 1:39 am December 25 and Sweeney described what was found on security footage.
Sweeney: “They broke one of the side front windows, not the big panel, closer to the Mykel’s side of the building and they went directly back to where we have a desk where my bookkeeper keeps the cash in there. It’s a locked desk, they broke the desk and then about six or seven feet from there is a backdoor and they set the alarm off there.”
He says it appears that the burglar is familiar with the store. Sweeney says cameras outside also captured the burglar’s actions before entering the store.
Sweeney: “We’ve got pictures of a guy going around the building after 1 o’clock. He was wearing a hoody and had a bar in his hand so he had something to break the lock on the desk and broke the window, got in there. He had to be a pretty small guy but he looked like he wore extra clothes.”
Police estimate the thief was inside the store for no longer than two minutes and Sweeney says in that small amount of time stole about $2,000 in cash, an additional $1,700 in checks, but no merchandise.
He says in their haste to get out quickly, the individual actually left some cash behind.
Sweeney’s is working with Soldotna Police and anyone with information can contact them at 262-4455.
