It鈥檚 been nearly a year since the arson that severely damaged the Aldergrove Mark鈥檚 clothing store and 91原创 RCMP are still hoping for more tips in the case.
Just before 7 a.m., Nov. 29, 2017, police and fire were called to the Aldergrove Village Mall in the 26300 block of Fraser Highway for a report of a structure fire.
The Mark鈥檚 store owners had already gone to the store in the middle of the night in response to an alarm, however, the business was found to be secure at that time.
Police later identified a vehicle of interest in the investigation 鈥� a Pontiac Grand Am SE with a broken window but still haven鈥檛 been able to locate the vehicle nor identify the owner.
Earlier this year in May, the owners of the store offered a reward of $10,000 for information about the arson that resulted in an arrest and charge of responsible parties. Unfortunately, this hasn鈥檛 proved fruitful.
Adam Bekar, spokesman for the Aldergrove Mark鈥檚, said, 鈥淲e are offering the reward to encourage anyone with information on the burglary and arson to come forward. The Mark鈥檚 in Aldergrove is a small business, locally owned and operated. The arson has had a significant impact on our employees, neighbouring businesses and the Aldergrove community at large. We are hopeful that someone with information will come forward to assist the RCMP in their investigation.鈥�
Fortunately, the Aldergrove Mark鈥檚 was able to retain most of their longterm employees by assigning work for them at the Abbotsford Mark鈥檚 store while the Aldergrove Mark鈥檚 location was restored and the store re-opened in late May. Mark鈥檚 is Aldergrove鈥檚 largest clothing retailer and is a long established and popular clothing retailer in the community.
The safe was also stolen in the burglary and arson fire at Mark鈥檚 that night.
91原创 Township Fire Department assistant fire chief Bruce Ferguson told The Aldergrove Star that they were informed of the fire by the alarm company at 6:40 a.m., Nov. 29, as well as by a caller who reported seeing smoke coming from the store.
Ferguson said firefighters from the Aldergrove fire hall across the street from Mark鈥檚 were able to contain the fire to the storage room, however, heavy smoke charged through the building, with smoke and water damaging goods in the store, as well as causing water and smoke damage to the neighbouring Great Clips hair salon and Oxygen Yoga gym. Both of those stores also were closed until restoration work was completed earlier this year.
Ferguson said fire fighters broke the front doors of Mark鈥檚 and a neighbouring store to ventilate the building.
Police are still hopeful someone will come forward with information to assist with this investigation.
Anyone with information is asked to please contact 91原创 RCMP at 604-532-3200. Should you need to remain anonymous, please call CrimeStoppers: Talk: 1-800-222-8477 or Type: www.solvecrime.ca
