'It breaks our hearts': truck crashes into Edmonton strip mall in suspected jewelry theft

Sue Bagga is shaken.

Her jewelry store is surrounded by debris and broken glassafter a truck smashed a gaping hole inthe building early Wednesday morning, in what police believe was an attempted theft.

It's the seventh time since openingin 1989 that VJ Jewellershas been targeted by thieves, Bagga said.

In 1995, someone cut the alarm system before ransackingthe place. Everything in the south Edmontonstore diamonds, 14-karat-gold rings,and all the cash in thesafe was taken.

Once, her husband Vijaywas pepper sprayedand beaten so badly by three menhe had to have surgery forabroken shoulder.

Twoyears ago, a truck drove through the front window, but thealarm system scared off the suspects before they could stealanything.

Since then, they've installed extra security systems andre-framed the store with cement postsand extra girders in attempt to protect their business.

Left feeling helpless

Now that it has happened again, Bagga feels helpless.

"It's very tough. It's six or seventimes that it has happened. It breaks our hearts, but we stand up again with the community's help. But it's hurting, with people doing that kind of stuff."

Police were called to the small shopping centre near the corner of 92nd Street and 34th Avenue near the Strathcona Industrial Park around 4:30 a.m. Wednesday.

A blue 2007 Ford pickup trucksmashed through the glass of the Sambol Sri Lankan Kitchen, ripping into a front wall and sending insulation, wooden beams and shards of glass flying throughthe dining room.

The suspects then fled in the heavily damaged truck, which was later located a few blocksfrom the mall.

Police have determined the truck was stolen. No descriptions of any suspects are available at this time.

Policebelievethe crash was an attempt to break through the wall of the restaurant into theadjacent jewelry store.

Champa Pathirana, who has owned SambolSriLankanKitchenfor two years, rushed to her business to assess the damage shortly after police arrived.

"Somebody phoned me from the city police. They said somebody broke into your restaurant," said Pathirana.

"I don't know what to think even. What can you do? I'm shocked."

Pathirana's surveillance video shows a truck ramming into the front of her restaurant several times, she said.

She has turned thefootage over to police. She doesn't thinkthe thieves were successful in stealing anything from herbusiness.

Though her restaurant is insured,Pathiranawas unsure when she would be able to open again.

"I don't know. Hopefully soon."