UTAH CROOKS STEAL COMPUTERS FROM BUSINESS Crooks steal computers, cash from family business - ABC4.com

Crooks steal computers, cash from family business

WEST VALLEY CITY, Utah (ABC 4 News) - Crooks delivered a knockout punch to a struggling West Valley business. Now, not only are customers missing out, but it means a meager Christmas for this family owned business.

The father and son who own J's Embroidery & Design earn most of their income in December but that came to a crashing halt when burglars broke into their shop this week and took the computers they depend on to make a living.

Normally the shop at 2734 South 3600 West would be humming with production. Machines usually limitless in what they can embroider have remained silent most of the week. “If these machines aren't running we're not making money,” said Justin Johnson who owns the business with his father, Jay Johnson.

Thieves broke in and stole the computers containing the software that run the machines. The computers also stored lists of customers and their orders. “All our means of what we do business with is all on there,” said Jay Johnson.

Burglars used a crow bar to force the shop’s back door open. They took the cash register and the credit card processor so Jay and Justin have no way of receiving credit card payments--the bulk of their business.

Jay is letting customers take their orders anyway and what makes matters worse; the company who services his credit card payments, Card Ready Payment, won't loan him another visa terminal to help out in their emergency. “It doesn't sound like you're willing to do anything,” Jay says to a customer support supervisor over the phone.

The Johnsons will also have to replace a customer's shirts that were stolen. They were already paid for and waiting to be embroidered. About $2000 in cash was also taken.

“They basically cleaned us out and left us with eight cents to our name,” said Jay.

It was money that included deposits for jobs not yet completed and cash for Christmas presents for his five children. Thieves even made off with a Christmas gift for his 3-year-old son. “I told my kids right now they'll have to wait till down the road or something until we get this put back together.”

In the meantime orders of shirts lay stacked and ready to complete as the Johnsons try to find replacement software and computers, difficult to do this late in the season, especially with no cash to pay for them. “We're just waiting for a miracle of some sort to get through all this mess,” said Jay.

Other businesses and mail boxes in the same complex were also hit. Police collected a flashlight the thieves left behind and are now checking it for fingerprints. The Johnsons are out about $35,000 and what makes this even more tragic; they have no insurance to cover the losses. They had an appointment after Christmas to sign up for coverage.

If you have any way to help the Johnsons you can contact them at: 755-4865 or 967-6533.