A grocery store owner in Irishtown, N.B., was struck in the head with a stolen liquor bottle while trying to stop a runaway thief. The care and support he received from his customers is helping him recover from the pain and shock as the entire community rallied around him.

Despite the incident, Luo-Ping Zhao, the owner of Irishtown Grocery, is feeling grateful for the support from his rural community. Zhao says that theft is becoming an increasingly common issue, and he has been posting photos of people who stole from him in order to deter thefts.

The incident happened when Zhao saw a man leave his store with seven stolen liquor bottles and instinctively chased after him. The thief struck him in the head with one of the bottles. After Zhao shared security footage online, the community responded with outrage and support.

Maple Hills Mayor Erica Warren says the store has been a staple of the community for decades and is one of the few local grocery options. She shared that people were shocked by the aggression, anger, and violence in the theft, but the community’s support and care for the shop owner is not surprising.

Source: Global News