Twice in less than a week, a burglar or burglars have hit Sault Ste. Marie's Mill Market.
Lincoln Loutitt, manager of corporate communications at Sault Ste. Marie Police Service, confirms to SooToday that a couple of break-in complaints from there are currently under investigation.
"They're breaking into a non-profit organization. They're stealing from the little people," says Jean Becker, from Northern Twisted Art, one of the affected market vendors.
Becker says the first break-in was discovered Friday morning and all her handcrafted rings were taken.
Then on Monday morning, market vendors were advised by email that another burglary had occurred.
This time, Becker told us. the losses were more extensive, with the thief or thieves hitting the vendors they didn't visit last week.
"Almost every vendor either got or had something stolen," she said, adding that a large quantity of meat, cheese, butter, maple syrup, handcrafted alpaca items were taken.
"They ripped handles off locked fridges to get inside."
"They didn't smash anything. They knew what they wanted and where to go," Becker said.
"I just want the word out," Becker told SooToday. "There are a lot of us vendors who can't claim this on our insurance because it doesn't cover theft. This is all out of our pocket. This is a nonprofit. We're here for you guys."
"When you steal from us, you're literally stealing from a family."
Another Mill Market vendor, Collholm Farm, reported on social media Monday that it had lost all its lamb and goat skins as well as Thornloe cheese and butter.