BATTLE CREEK, Mich. — Battle Creek Police are shedding light on an alarming trend in West Michigan: robberies at marijuana dispensaries.
Friday, three minors and an 18-year-old man, all of Battle Creek, were arrested for breaking into Potter’s Cannabis Boutique at 2825 Capital Ave. SW.
Store Manager Jennifer Mohnk told News Channel 3 they’ve been robbed twice in the past two months, losing a combined total of nearly $20,000.
“It just really cuts deep into the pockets of Corey, the owner, he is trying to have a local business and it cuts deep when something like that happens,” Mohnk said.
Surveillance video at Potter’s captured the group breaking in after shattering a front window, grabbing as much product as they could.
“It is a stupid thing to do you are right here in a busy part and there is cameras in every part of this building,” Mohnk said.
The group didn’t make it far before getting busted by police, who caught them while conducting a traffic stop, according to Battle Creek Police Sergeant Kelson Gettel.
“It occurred probably 12 hours after,” Gettel said. “We were able to locate marijuana, a large amount of marijuana products in that car.”
Gettel told News Channel 3 police were lucky locating the suspects this time, but admitted other times when encountering similar break-ins, it’s a challenge to identify the suspects.
“Because of how they conceal their identity, it can be really difficult just through surveillance video,” Gettel said.
Break-ins at dispensaries are not unique to Potter’s. Its a trend police are encountering across West Michigan, according to Gettel.
“It is an opportunity for them to make money,” Gettel said. “We have been able to track other Battle Creek suspects traveling to other counties in the state of Michigan and then coming back here. It is happening all over the place.”
As of Friday, charges are pending against the suspects in the Calhoun County court system, officials said.
Battle Creek Police are shedding light on an alarming trend in West Michigan: robberies at marijuana dispensaries. Read More
