10/12/2026
🚨 A MESSAGE TO ANYONE CONSIDERING STEALING FROM OUR LOCAL SMALL BUSINESSES. PLEASE READ. 🚨
Running a small, locally owned business is HARD. Especially here in our area right now, where so many small businesses are already struggling to keep their doors open, pay their bills, support their families, and provide jobs for others.
Behind every small business is a real person. A family. Employees who depend on their paychecks. Countless hours of hard work, sacrifice, stress, and money invested into making a business successful.
When you steal from a small business, you are NOT stealing from some big corporation with endless money. You are stealing directly from REAL PEOPLE. You are taking money that we have worked incredibly hard to earn. You are hurting our businesses, our employees, our families, and our ability to keep serving our community.
Here at Crystals & Collectives, we want everyone to feel welcome in our shop. We love our customers, appreciate everyone who supports us, and take pride in offering our community a unique local shopping experience. But let us make one thing VERY CLEAR…
📹 WE ARE WATCHING. 👀
Our shop is equipped with cameras covering all angles throughout the store. We can monitor these cameras right from behind our counter while operating our business. But that's not all. Our camera system is also displayed on a television screen inside our personal home, running 24/7, and our family members can also access these cameras on their cell phones throughout the day, at any time.
We take the security of our business seriously. We are paying attention, and we have the ability to review what happens inside our store.
WE WILL PROSECUTE THEFT TO THE FULLEST EXTENT OF THE LAW. NO EXCEPTIONS.
Just the other day, we experienced ANOTHER theft incident in our shop. There were approximately 10 people inside our store when the individual was confronted by Sandpoint Local Police in front of everyone present.
Think about that for a moment. Imagine risking your reputation, your future, and the embarrassment of being confronted by law enforcement in a store full of people over something you could have simply chosen NOT to steal.
And for what?
Please also note that we, as small businesses, also share your photos with one another around town when you are caught shoplifting so that others know your face and know to be watching cameras as soon as your enter other stores in town.
Small businesses are already fighting hard enough to survive. We shouldn't also have to deal with people walking into our stores and taking what we have worked so hard to pay for, stock, and sell. - YES!...we have to work to buy and pay for EVERY item in our stores. - Also another reason to be respectful and not open or destroy packaging of items in stores you visit. BE RESPECTFUL!!! Our merchandise is not free for us to obtain.
Every item in our shop costs us money. We invest our own hard-earned dollars into inventory, rent, utilities, insurance, payroll, and the countless other expenses that come with keeping a business running. When merchandise is stolen, we still have to pay those bills. We absorb that loss. And ultimately, our families and businesses pay the price.
PLEASE THINK BEFORE YOU STEAL. There are real people on the other side of that counter. People who work long hours, make sacrifices, and pour their hearts into their businesses.
If you can't afford something, please don't take it. If you don't want to purchase something, simply leave it on the shelf.
And if you witness theft happening at a local business, please understand how much it matters to the people who own and operate that business.
We will continue to welcome honest customers with open arms. We will continue working hard to keep our doors open. And we will continue supporting our community.
But to anyone who thinks our shop is an easy target: THINK AGAIN.
Our cameras are monitoring. Our footage can be reviewed. Law enforcement will be contacted, and we will pursue prosecution.
DON'T BE THIS PERSON.
Please support your local small businesses. Shop local. Protect local jobs. Help keep our community's small businesses alive. ❤️
— Crystals & Collectives
📍 509 Fifth Avenue, Sandpoint, Idaho
