'Kicked While You're Down': Countryside Deli Asks Public For Help Identifying Alleged Burglars
WASHINGTON COUNTY (KDKA) - A family business is asking for help from the public after they say burglars hit their store.
Countryside Deli posted surveillance photos online in hopes that someone would be able to identify the suspects.
According to the deli, two people smashed out windows on Wednesday night, destroyed the cash register, and burglarized the business.
Corey DiGiovanni owns Countryside Deli on Henderson Avenue in Washington with his father. He felt violated when he saw the surveillance video and saw the damage left behind.
"They took a quick look around and then attack the cash registers," he said.
Using what DiGiovanni believes to be a sledgehammer and crowbar, they quickly hit the cash drawers and left.
They were inside for about two minutes.
"It's just a feeling of being kicked when you're down," DiGiovanni said.
According to DiGiovanni, there is never a good time to be burglarized, but this comes when they've already been struggling.
The pandemic has caused them to lose about 50-60% of their business.
He said if the suspects needed help, all they had to do was ask and he would do whatever he could.
"I feel you don't have to go to this level to hurt people who are already hurting. I just feel this is not something that has to be done," DiGiovanni said.
Digiovanni credits the community for helping his family's business during their time of need.
Other restaurants offered any help they could.
"For the community to support us the way they do, it really helps. It makes us feel a little bit better," he told KDKA at his Washington County store.
By Friday, everything was fixed and the store was running like normal.
"That's what being a small business owner is, dealing with challenges. This is just another challenge for us. We pick up the pieces and keep fighting," he said.
DiGiovanni said the damage was a few thousand dollars. They are insured but don't expect to see that money for a few weeks.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Pennsylvania State Police.