Business Owner Finds Himself Target Of Multiple Burglaries

A business owner said on Wednesday that he was fed up with burglaries at his south Columbus store.

Clay Tippett, owner of Tip’s Treasures, located at 2295 Lockbourne Rd., said that he received a call from one of his employees Tuesday night about an open window.

Tippett said that he asked his employee to peek inside, and when he did, he saw someone burglarizing the store.

The burglar entered the store by pushing out a window air conditioning unit and climbing through the window, the store owner said.

Tippett’s employee chased the burglar, but the man got away.

“We got fingerprints off the picture and off the frames,” Tippett said.

According to Tippett, his business has been broken into once every three to four months. Battle scars of previous burglaries can be seen at his store.

Earlier in the summer, thieves stole $30,000 in coins, Tippett said.
 
“It’s all for the same reason,” Tippett said. “It’s all about the drugs. Until we get rid of the drugs, there’s nothing we can do.”

Tip’s Treasures features collectable coins and other valuable items.

“They opened up the drawers and took about $10,000 of these coins and gold I had, and they’re gone,” Tippett said.

The owner said that security is too expensive and is not working. He does have a guard dog and surveillance cameras, though.

“I just lost $40,000 in the last few months from people breaking into the office - that’s not good,” Tippett said.

He said if the thefts continue, he may be forced to close his store.

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