The Cigarette Outlet
Digital News Report- An explosion rocked Pleasant Hill this morning at around 5:00am, which blew out the windows of a local cigarette store. Due to the early morning hours, few people were nearby when it occurred and nobody was injured. Firefighters responded quickly and brought the smoldering debris under control.
The store has been the victim of arson four times since August, which has now prompted the owner, Joe Banga, to sell the store. “The damage is pretty bad,” he said. “I have no choice. It’s a loss.”
A Pleasant Hill patrol officer was driving by the Cigarettes Outlet when he noticed “something odd” inside the store just before the explosion. The store is located in the Woodsworth Plaza shopping center on Contra Costa Blvd.
Police lieutenant Jose Delatorre has stated, “Obviously with these attempts, somebody’s trying to get this business burned down. But we haven’t found specific reasons.” Banga is also unsure of why his store has been attacked repeatedly.
Anyone with information about the fire can contact Pleasant Hill police at 925-288-4630.
Picture Credit: ShakataGaNai
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