Estimated $9,000 in Damages after Tobacco Store Break-in

A local Knox County business, Downtown Food and Smoke Shop, experienced a break-in overnight on Wednesday, April 2, 2025. Although the shop has been closed since January of this year, quite a few retail items were still left inside. 

Owners Suni Patel and AJ Patel shared that the currently unknown thief had caused as much as $9,000 in damages, not including the cost to replace the large-pane storefront window, which will run them another $675. For now, they have opted to board up the window at an additional cost of $150.

Barbourville Police Department arrived on the scene shortly after the call about the break-in and is now actively investigating the incident. Meanwhile, the owners are clearing out the remaining inventory from the store.

Updates will follow as made available by police and the store’s owners. Anyone with information regarding the break-in should call Barbourville Police at 606-546-3441.