Richmond Vape Shops Hit by Spike in Break-Ins After Enforcement Crackdown

Owners allege discrimination as businesses shuttered by Operation Vaporize face rising burglaries

Mar. 17, 2026 at 10:18pm

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A wave of burglaries is hitting Richmond vape shops that were shut down as part of the city's Operation Vaporize enforcement operation. Data shows 16 of the 19 vape store break-ins so far in 2026 involved shops that were previously cited and shuttered. Some shop owners believe the crackdown is fueling the very crime it was designed to prevent, and have alleged discriminatory targeting of their Yemeni American community.

Why it matters

The spike in break-ins at shuttered vape shops raises concerns about the unintended consequences of the enforcement operation, as well as questions around whether the crackdown unfairly targeted certain business owners. The situation highlights the challenges small businesses can face when caught up in regulatory actions, especially those from marginalized communities.

The details

Richmond's Operation Vaporize has inspected 67 vape businesses since December, often citing them for safety violations and lack of proper licensing. Data shows 16 of the 19 vape store break-ins this year targeted shops that were previously shut down, with most occurring in the past two weeks. Owners say the "yellow sticker" of closure is an "invitation" for break-ins, leaving them vulnerable. One shop owner, Zakarya Maqshar, says he's been hit three times since his January shutdown, leaving him in financial distress. Police acknowledge the trend, but stand by the operation, saying all businesses must meet basic requirements like licenses and certificates of occupancy.

  • Since December, 67 businesses have been inspected through Operation Vaporize.
  • There have been 19 vape store break-ins so far in 2026, compared to just 20 for all of 2025.
  • Of the 19 break-ins this year, 16 involved 12 vape stores that were shut down by Operation Vaporize, with most occurring in the past two weeks.
  • Talks between shop owners, the city, and the mayor are scheduled for March 24, approximately one week before inspections are set to resume.

The players

Dean Alasaad

A Yemeni community activist who said the shutdowns are leaving stores vulnerable.

Zakarya Maqshar

Operator of Green Stop Convenience, whose shop was hit for the third time since it was shut down in January.

Rick Edwards

Richmond Police Chief who acknowledged the trend of break-ins but stands by the Operation Vaporize enforcement.

Yemeni American Association

Shop owners who have alleged discriminatory targeting of their community, saying they don't believe the number of shops shut down is normal.

Richmond City Council

The city council members who Edwards said have received complaints from all nine districts, driving the need for the Operation Vaporize enforcement.

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What they’re saying

“It's a double whammy. You get shut down and your store gets broken into. The yellow sticker is an invitation, come and break the store because nobody is in there.”

— Dean Alasaad, Yemeni community activist

“I don't have funds in my personal or my business and I haven't paid my car note, no mortgage, so that's bad credit. And now with this, I don't know what I'm going to do to be honest with you.”

— Zakarya Maqshar, Operator of Green Stop Convenience

“As soon as we started seeing a trend of these vape shops being targeted for burglaries, you know, we certainly started trying to address that as well.”

— Rick Edwards, Richmond Police Chief

“The goal isn't to placard buildings, the goal is for people to be in compliance.”

— Rick Edwards, Richmond Police Chief

“But this has been an outcry from our community, from every part of our city, from all nine council districts. People are complaining about this, and so it's something we felt compelled to address.”

— Rick Edwards, Richmond Police Chief

What’s next

Talks between shop owners, the city, and the mayor are scheduled for March 24, approximately one week before inspections are set to resume.

The takeaway

This case highlights the unintended consequences that can arise when enforcement actions target small businesses, especially those from marginalized communities. The spike in break-ins at shuttered vape shops raises concerns about the fairness and effectiveness of the Operation Vaporize crackdown, and underscores the need for policymakers to carefully consider the broader community impact of regulatory actions.