Caught on camera: Video shows masked men breaking into Vancouver business

Surveillance video shows the thieves breaking into the business and stealing sunglasses and other merchandise. (Prestige Optical)

Security camera video shows three masked men breaking into Prestige Optical in Vancouver’s Kitsilano neighbourhood Monday morning.

The video shows the men shattering the glass door, then entering the store and pulling sunglasses off the shelves.

The small business is owned by Jaspreet Paul. The incident is the first break-and-enter for the shop that has been open for seven years.

“When I saw the video for the first time, literally my heart sank, and I was shaking at that point,” says Paul.

He says one of his customers notified him of the broken glass at around 6 a.m. Monday.

“As small business owners, we put a lot of effort into our business and we serve the community really well,” Paul says. “When something like this happens, it’s just very disheartening.”

The theft leaves the shop out of tens of thousands of dollars worth of merchandise.

“We are still doing inventory and we haven’t really come down to the exact number, but I think its close to 50 or 60 thousand,” says Paul.

Vancouver police confirm to CTV News they are investigating, and say they are not able to comment further due to the ongoing file.

Paul says he is thankful no one is hurt, but is worried for other shops in the area.

“Someone just breaking into a store for which we have worked really hard, it’s just very heartbreaking,” he says.