Crime & Safety

VIDEO UPDATE: Break-in Discovered at Warner Landscape and Patio

The owner of the Haddon Avenue garden center is furious. He also says he has the perpetrator on camera.

When Andrew Warner came into work Wednesday morning, he was greeted by an ugly scene: broken glass, a mess inside his shop and the awful sensation of wondering what isn't there anymore.

An apparent overnight break-in at Warner Landscape and Patio—within two weeks of its spring seasonal opening—had the garden center owner fuming and searching for answers.

"I'm trying to take an inventory of everything that's missing, which is more difficult than you think," Warner told Patch. 

Find out what's happening in Collingswoodfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

"We noticed all my air tools were missing," he said. "Somebody going through my tools is like somebody going through my underwear drawer: It's personal."

Warner reported that his internal security camera captured footage of the person he believes to be responsible for the break-in. He provided a still photograph to Patch in an email, which is attached to this story.

Find out what's happening in Collingswoodfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Judging by the clock on his internal security camera, Warner believes the individual was inside his building from 2:23 a.m. to 3:05 a.m. on March 13.

Warner said he had notified Collingswood police, but by mid-day Wednesday, authorities were unavailable for comment. Warner thinks the perpetrator "busted out the window with a brick" and "tried to take big stuff out the window;" a bar in the frame prevented him from doing so.

"The guy tried," Warner said. "He tried taking heavy-duty equipment; he was trying for anything he could."

**UPDATE**—March 13, 9 p.m.: Warner distributed to Patch surveillance footage he says came from his internal security cameras. In it, he says, the individual can be seen more clearly. In an email, Warner noted: 

Camera footage shows the guy removing A LOT of items out the window, all smaller-ish items, as we can see him trying for large items but can't fit it out the opening. still getting a list together of everything. Appears at this time to have targeted mostly automotive tools: air ratchets, 1/2 air guns, including my NEW 1" anvil air gun for doing my 22.5 tractor trailer tires. Also my impact sockets...

Warner also uploaded video footage that he says was captured "less than one minute from time of suspect leaving my facility." He said in an email to Patch that the truck could be seen leaving the front of Sun National Bank before making a U-turn in the middle of Haddon Avenue, picking up the suspect, and heading east.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Collingswood Police Department at 856-854-1901.

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