Abide Coffeehouse in Wilkes-Barre burglarized

Yahoo! News - Mar 26th, 2025
Open on Yahoo! News

Abide Coffeehouse, located at 23 W. Market St. in Wilkes-Barre, was burglarized in the early hours of Tuesday morning, as reported on their Facebook page. The break-in occurred around 1:45 a.m., resulting in cash theft and some damage to the shop's interior. Despite the incident, the coffeehouse continued operations on Tuesday and responded creatively by launching 'The Robbery Special,' offering a 15% discount on all in-store drinks and online purchases using the code ROBBERY15. This initiative aims to encourage community support and highlight the resilience of the business.

The incident underscores the challenges small businesses face and the role of community support in overcoming adversity. Abide Coffeehouse's response not only mitigates the immediate impact of the burglary but also strengthens its connection with its patrons. By turning a negative event into an opportunity for engagement, Abide reinforces its community-centric values, illustrating how local businesses can leverage unexpected challenges to foster goodwill and continued patronage.

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RATING

6.4
Moderately Fair
Read with skepticism

The news story about the burglary at Abide Coffeehouse is generally well-written and timely, capturing the immediate interest of the local community with clear and concise reporting. Its main strength lies in its readability and the engaging narrative of community resilience. However, the story lacks depth in terms of source quality and balance, relying primarily on a single source without independent verification. The absence of additional perspectives, such as those from law enforcement or community members, limits the overall impact and breadth of the article. While the promotional aspect adds a unique angle, it does not significantly enhance the story's public interest or controversy levels. Overall, the article serves as a straightforward report on a local incident, with room for improvement in sourcing and perspective inclusion.

RATING DETAILS

7
Accuracy

The news story reports a burglary at Abide Coffeehouse, providing specific details such as the location, time, and nature of the crime. The claim that the coffeehouse was burglarized at 1:45 a.m. and that cash was stolen, along with interior damage, seems plausible but would benefit from verification through police reports or official statements. The article accurately states that no one was injured and that the coffeehouse remained open, which aligns with typical business responses to such incidents. However, the story relies heavily on a Facebook post from the coffeehouse, which, while a direct source, lacks independent verification. The promotional offer details are verifiable through the coffeehouse's online platforms, adding credibility to that part of the story.

6
Balance

The article primarily presents the perspective of Abide Coffeehouse, focusing on their response to the burglary and their promotional efforts. It lacks input from law enforcement or any third-party sources that could provide a broader context or verification of the incident. This creates a somewhat one-sided narrative that emphasizes the business's resilience and community support without exploring other angles, such as the impact on local crime rates or similar incidents in the area. Including perspectives from local authorities or community members could have provided a more balanced view.

8
Clarity

The article is clearly written, with a straightforward structure that makes it easy to follow. It succinctly presents the key facts of the incident, including the time, location, and nature of the burglary, as well as the coffeehouse's response. The language is neutral and accessible, avoiding jargon or overly complex sentences. The inclusion of specific promotional details adds to the clarity, providing readers with concrete information about the business's response and how they can support it.

5
Source quality

The primary source for the article is a Facebook post from Abide Coffeehouse, which is direct but not independently verified. There is no indication of interviews with law enforcement, witnesses, or other businesses in the area, which limits the depth and reliability of the information. The reliance on a single source, particularly one with a vested interest in maintaining a positive public image, affects the overall credibility of the report. The absence of additional sources or corroboration from authoritative entities like police reports is a notable gap.

6
Transparency

The article is transparent about its primary source, explicitly stating that the information comes from a Facebook post by Abide Coffeehouse. However, it does not provide any context or methodology for verifying the details of the burglary. There is a lack of disclosure regarding any attempts to obtain comments from law enforcement or other potential sources. This limits the reader's ability to fully understand the basis for the claims made in the story or assess their reliability independently.

Sources

  1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=60GcO8OgmrE
  2. https://abidecoffeehouse.com
  3. https://www.wnep.com/article/news/local/luzerne-county/closed-coffee-shop-to-reopen-after-water-woes-abide-coffeehouse-plumbing-water-heater/523-6b685857-acc1-4de1-a1ff-650f2039e7eb