Robber Strikes Flower Shop

A robber steals thousands of dollars from a small, family-owned flower shop in Jackson. It happened early Monday morning at Brown Floral just hours before it opened for one of its busiest days of the year. The shop's recent loss goes far deeper than money. It's a staple in Jackson, a business now run by fourth generation sisters. After 146 years, it's an unfortunate first.

Diana Jonas, co-owner, Brown Floral Co.: "The cash was gone."

But Diana Jonas says, if the business can survive the great depression, wars and a recession, it can make it through a robbery.

Diana Jonas: "We stand by the neighborhood, and you know, we're gonna hang in here."

Jonas says, after a 16 hour day Sunday, they locked up and went home, knowing they'd right back to handle the Valentine's Day rush, but in that short amount of time, someone came in and stole several thousand dollars.

Diana Jonas: "Our back door was standing wide open, which I checked the door before we left, so I know it was locked."

Someone jimmied the door and headed to the office.

Diana Jonas: "You can see where the lock right here and the damage on the side where the crowbar was used. Every little bit that is taken from us, it's hard, we can't ever get it back."

It only added insult to injury.

Diana Jonas: "It's gonna go on, go down as the worst week because she was just such a big part of our lives here."

"She" is Sara Cole, an 11 year employee at Brown Floral. Cole went on maternity leave in late January and died one week later in a car accident. Her baby survived the crash, but died a few days later. On Saturday Cole was laid to rest. Two big losses in just one week, but Jonas will always have a mural she and Cole painted together.

Diana Jonas: "So that's Sara and I, so for eternity we're gonna be walking the little hill."

Jonas says she is offering a 1,500 dollar reward for any information leading to the arrest of the person responsible.