3-2-1- Bounce in Baxter has been robbed a second time.
The bounce house business that features five inflatable bounce houses geared for children was burglarized Oct. 19 and again Thursday.
"The last time it happened it was scary, the second time it's personal," said Jennifer Petrie, owner of 3-2-1- Bounce. "This is like slapping me in the face. It doesn't get much worse than this.
"It's been emotional. I don't have any enemies. I don't know why anyone would be targeting me or my family."
Petrie said it appeared the suspect broke in at 5 a.m. and 7 a.m. She said they took the safe, the video surveillance system, a TV, chips and candy. In October, the suspect took some cash in the safe, a laptop, Bluetooth speaker, two security cameras, a TV, frozen pizzas, chips and candy bars.
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3-2-1 Bounce is located on Audubon Way, off Highway 371 in Baxter. The building also houses Fitquest, El Tequila Mexican Restaurant and Salon Seven. After the first burglary, Petrie said all the businesses in the building agreed to increase security, to make sure another crime would not happen again. More cameras have been added.
Petrie said she didn't have the entire security system up and running after the business was broken into the first time. She said they're working as fast as they can to replace what they can and get better security systems in place.
Petrie said in both burglaries, the suspect came in on the side door that comes into the business. She said the first time the suspect entered the business without force, but on Thursday, the suspect used force to gain entry into the business.
Petrie said in the first burglary the suspect spent a lot of time in the building to commit the crime and the second time the suspect spent a lot less time in the building.
"We hired a private investigator to help us find out who did this," Petrie said. "We hired him after the first burglary."
Petrie said the public has been supportive and nice to them since the burglaries.
"If the public wants to do something nice they can come in and bring their kids in and bounce," Petrie said. "This would give me a boost, give me more comfort."
Petrie said the business opened at noon Thursday after the burglary and is now open during their regular hours.
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Baxter Police Sgt. Dave Timm said it appears the bounce house has been targeted as the city has not had any other recent commercial burglaries, including at the other businesses located in the same building as 3-2-1- Bounce.
"However, we don't know exactly what the pattern or the connection would be because it is an open active investigation," Timm said. "We are still reviewing evidence, trying to review more videos from surrounding businesses and we're doing an area canvas to develop more evidence and speaking with the parties involved."
Timm encourages businesses to make sure their camera systems are working properly and that they have a cloud or outside backup plan. Police also encourage business owners to test their security systems often to make sure they're working. Timm said with the updated technology there are many tools businesses can utilize to help secure their building.
Anyone with information related to any of the burglaries at the bounce house is encouraged to call the police department at 218-454-5090. Callers can remain anonymous.
JENNIFER STOCKINGER may be reached at jennifer.stockinger@brainerddispatch.com or 218-855-5851. Follow me at www.twitter.com/jennewsgirl on Twitter.
