The Redding Police Department (RPD) confirmed a burglary on Fri., Nov. 25, at HnBcollectibles (HBC) on Hilltop Drive.
HBC, a sports card and sport-memorabilia store, just opened earlier this month on Nov. 2. Owners Blake Schlinger and Hope Marshall said they were devastated to find their store was broken into early Friday morning around 3:20 a.m.—just 23 days after their grand opening.
“Everything was a mess. I just started crying," Marshall said. "Because we are just trying to bring the sport and hobby back to Redding.”
Owners said there was $15,000 worth of inventory stolen, including single sports cards, rare cards and two unopened boxes of merchandise containing 500 cards. Schlinger said the suspect kicked in the store's glass door after a failed attempt to pry the lock. Schlinger said the suspect was hiding his identity with a face mask.
Just a few months earlier, multiple businesses were broken into on Hilltop and Dana Drive. Schlinger said they have also talked with other businesses that have been broken into and said it's sad and frustrating to see this continue to happen.
“It’s just recurring and it happens," Schlinger said. "Unless something gets done, it’s going to keep happening. We are trying to bring the hobby back to sports cards and give people the fun of collecting. This is just really sad, and he will get caught for what he’s done."
KRCR did reach out to the RPD. Officials said break-ins like this can come in waves. So, they have increased patrols in affected areas and are working with businesses on finding solutions.
“We can't be everywhere at once, even though we're doing extra patrols," Corporal Wes Townsley said. "We're going to miss some of these people and the people who call these suspicious subjects in are very helpful for us.”
Schlinger and Marshall said that they have filed a police report and are taking extra precautions to avoid an instance like this occurring in the future.
"We’re not going to stop because it’s just not fair," Marshall said. "We want this to be a safe place for families and their kids and all that kind of stuff. If somebody does it once and they're not stopped there’s no telling if they’re going t do it twice three times.”
If you have information regarding this incident, please reach out to Redding Police Department at (530) 225-4200.
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