Rino Cioffi is known as the unofficial mayor of Hastings Street, having run his popular meat and Italian food store there for several generations.
But on Tuesday, the owner of Cioffi's Meat Market and Deli - at two locations in the 4100 block of Hastings - got a nasty surprise when three people succeeded in stealing $1,365 from his till by distracting a cashier. The incident occurred at 1: 30 p.m.
According to Cioffi, two women and a man spent more than three minutes distracting a female cashier. The trio had gotten a hold of a set of keys and were trying to get the cash drawer open.
"We have it all on video surveillance," said Cioffi. "It looks like they cased us out. They were trying everything to get her away from the till and they were even ordering food."
Cioffi said it's the first time his store has fallen victim to such a cash-and-grab. He's turned over the video footage to the police and his insurance company and wants to get the word out to other business owners so they don't fall victim to this type of theft.
"Our cashier had no clue what was happening," said Cioffi. "And they got so much money because it was just before we were supposed to go to the bank."
Cpl. Rick Skolrood of the Burnaby RCMP confirmed that Cioffi had filed a report and that officers were looking into the case.
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