Vibhu Norby was used to the occasional break-in at his retail stores, especially the one in Hayes Valley he opened five years ago. The products b8ta sells, mainly electronics and high-end home goods, likely resell well on the black market, he said.
But the break-ins have been getting worse, and he’s starting to fear for the safety of his employees. Just this year, the Hayes Valley store already saw multiple robberies and an overnight break-in. On the same block as the store in Union Square, there have been three muggings this year. He has decided to close that store indefinitely, even though he’ll have to continue to pay the rent. “It doesn’t matter how expensive it is,” Norby, CEO and founder of b8ta, said. “We can’t send our employees into a store where there’s even a 2% chance they get mugged.”
Cred: Tessa McLean, SFGATE / Continue Reading…