Vandalized for fifth time

Photo: Thai Fusion

Thai Fusion restaurant has once again been hit by vandals.

This is the fifth time the West Kelowna restaurant has been targeted since March of 2015.

Back in October, a person dressed in black smashed out all of the windows in the building with a baseball bat and left the scene without entering the restaurant.

Since that time, Luke Sumpantarat says business has been back to normal and there has been an outpouring of support from the community.

That was until April 26, when another person walked up to the restaurant late at night, smashed out several windows and spray painted the outside – but did not enter the building.

“It looked like a man in dark clothes, with a mask and he had baseball bat, but it didn’t look like the same guy,” said Sumpantarat.

He says there isn’t any evidence to point at who is behind the attacks on the restaurant.

“It’s strange how it is happening and when it is happening. They don’t take anything but they know they can walk right in,” he said.

Sumpantarat believes whoever is behind these targeted attacks wants to harm his business and keep the restaurant closed.

“Maybe they want to relocate us; I am not sure. But we love West Kelowna and we are staying open – we aren’t going anywhere.”

While his pocketbook may have been hit the hardest, the vandalism has actually increased his business.

“Everyone here has been so supportive. We have gained so many regulars since the publicity of this,” said Sumpantarat.

Thai Fusion wants everyone to know their spirits won’t be dampened by these incidents and they plan on continuing to serve customers.

The windows have been repaired, and unlike the last incident, the restaurant did not have to close following the vandalism.

RCMP investigators reviewed the restaurant's video surveillance footage. 

Const. Jesse O'Donaghey says the video shows the suspect committing the criminal acts before fleeing as the passenger in what appears to be a grey newer model Nissan Altima with black wheels.

The West Kelowna RCMP seized evidence at the scene and continue with their investigation. RCMP officers assisted the property representatives with cleaning up the scene.