Sooke rallies behind tech-repair shop after seven break-ins

An online fundraiser has been launched for Gadget Tree’s owner, who says the repeated break-ins were putting the business at risk.

The owner of a tech-repair shop in Sooke is getting a helping hand from the community after being broken into seven times — including five times since April. Sooke resident Susan Jones, who frequents the shop through her business, WebMax Canada, has set up a fundraising page to help with repairs that had reached close to $5,700 of its $7,500 goal on Thursday. She called the response from donors “heartwarming.”

Gadget Tree, which opened its doors in November 2021, has been “fantastic” for her company, she said. “We’ve got computers that break and we also have customers who need fixes.” Owner Alex Kingston is known for his good work and readiness to share his expertise when customers have questions, Jones said.

Kingston said the repeated break-ins were putting the business at risk. “It’s been a real, recurring issue, obviously,” he said. “Much more of this and we were going to have to close.”

He said that from $4,000 t0 $5,000 worth of merchandise was stolen in each incident, particularly laptops and phones. Different people have shown up in the security-camera footage each time, but the tracking devices on the stolen goods indicate they were all taken to the same location, Kingston said. Sooke RCMP are investigating the break-ins, which have badly damaged the business’s front door, which now has to be replaced.

One option he’s considering is a metal pull-down security gate. Kingston said his insurance will pay about $2,000 for repairs, but with the door’s odd size and other factors, it could end up costing about $10,000. He said he doesn’t know why Gadget Tree, located in the middle of town on Sooke Road, has been the target of so many incidents, but he’s grateful that people are getting behind him.

“It’s been really humbling to have the community step up and help.” He said asking for help can be hard, but he is happy that Jones took the initiative to raise funds. For her part, Jones said people have been supportive because Kingston is so well-liked around the area.

“He’s just your average, everyday ‘geek’, and we’re lucky to have him here,” she said with a laugh. Jones said she knew Kingston was “at his wits’ end” over the break-ins, so she decided to do what she could to help. On the fundraising page, she says that if you live in Sooke, the odds are good that Kingston has fixed something for you over the years.

“If Gadget Tree has ever helped you out, here’s your chance to return the favour,” she says. “Thank you for caring about the small businesses that make Sooke what it is.” Sooke Mayor Maja Tait said Gadget Tree provides a needed service, and it’s nice to see the response the fundraiser is generating after the company was “so tremendously hard-hit.”

“People always need IT support and the staff there has been just amazing.” Sooke RCMP could not be immediately reached for comment on the break-in investigation.