MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The owner of a floral shop in Binghampton says customers stepped up to help after burglars hit her shop over the weekend.
According to reports, at 7:40 a.m., officers responded to a business burglary at Everbloom Design, located at 2489 Broad Avenue.
The business owner stated that she received an alarm on her phone advising her that motion was detected inside her business.
Police say a man can be seen on security footage smashing her front window and going inside. He left the business by jumping back through the window while carrying a bag of merchandise.
The suspect reportedly stole $400 worth of jewelry, $100 in candles, and $50 in candy.
Police say the suspect left the scene heading west on Broad Avenue.
Kristin Wolter-Canfield, the owner of Everbloom, believes the man who burglarized her store returned some of the stolen items and tricked her into giving him a reward.
“He had my stuff in a bag and he said he bought it off of someone. I misheard the amount, but because I was so happy and excited, I gave him $40,” Wolter-Canfield said.
Wolter-Canfield says, like a lot of small business owners, she has been struggling to compete with big retailers, and Saturday was a low point.
She says word spread quickly on social media about what happened, and on Sunday, business picked up in a big way.
“Yeah, even friends I haven’t seen in a long time came by and made purchases, and some people bought quite a bit for $58, so it’s keeping my spirits high,” she said.
Wolter-Canfield says police recognized the man in her video and made an arrest. She says the items returned were covered with the burglar’s blood and can’t be resold.
She’s hoping people continue to shop small.
“Yesterday, I was like I don’t wanna do it anymore, but today I’m really really encouraged, and I’m not going anywhere,” she said.