The owners of two locally-owned small businesses in central Sioux Falls, Daylily Coffee and In Flower, are cleaning up after a break-in during the early hours of June 27, which cost thousands of dollars in damages and stolen property.
The Sioux Falls Police Department responded after a neighbor reported the sound of breaking glass at about 1 a.m. June 27. After searching the premises and finding no one at the scene, the law enforcement discovered broken doors and signs of forced entry at Daylily Coffee and In Flower, which are side-by-side inside the same building on East 8th Street.
The suspect—believed to be a juvenile male—was captured on a neighbor’s security cameras and seen carrying items from the property. As of July 2, no arrests have been made and the investigation is ongoing, according to SFPD spokesperson Sgt. Aaron Benson.
“One of the guys that lived in the neighborhood said he saw somebody several times in his backyard that night, and then that same person came through around the time this happened and appeared to be carrying some items in their hands,” Benson said.
Benson said the resident also reported seeing a juvenile male and female in his backyard multiple times that evening, but only the male was seen again carrying items around the time of the incident.
Daylily Coffee, located at 1010 E. 8th St., Suite 100, by the Hi-Ho Bar in Sioux Falls, roasts coffee beans found around the world, as well as baked goods with gluten-free, vegan and non-dairy options.
“We were woken up at 1 a.m. by the police knocking on our door,” Daylily Coffee co-owner Ariana Vandersnick said later that morning on a June 27 Instagram video.
Vandersnick said the suspect first attempted to break in through the back window using some form of blunt object. When that failed, the suspect then broke the glass in the side door leading to the flower shop’s storage area and entered the building.
Broken glass door to the In Flower floral shop after a break-in on June 27, 2025 on East 8th Street in Sioux Falls, resulting in damaged property and stolen items and cash
In Flower owner Stephanie Thi then stated that the suspects damaged both of her doors, attempting to force the front door and breaking the glass on the other.
“They stole all of my tech, which I don’t normally leave at the shop, including an iPad, my computer and the shop iPhone,” Thi said. “They also took about $300 in cash.”
Thi and Benson estimate thousands of dollars in damages and lost property. The suspects also did a few unusual things, such as plugging in and using an old air conditioner and taking a bite out of a burrito that had been kept in a refrigerator.
Thi added the incident disrupted operations: Her team is currently without a phone or POS system, and the space no longer feels secure.
“We’ve been spending extra time checking in and making sure no one is trying to get in while we wait for repairs,” she said. “Right now, we even have to crawl through the window of the door to the back room since it won’t open.
“Between the break-in itself and everything we need to fix or replace, it’s going to be a significant financial setback for us,” Thi said.
The emotional impact, Thi said, has been difficult given that her account was hacked and drained of funds earlier this year, along with a few other unexpected challenges since then.
“It feels like no matter how many things we do right and with good intentions, we keep getting knocked down,” Thi said.
Despite these obstacles, In Flower has remained operational even without a point-of-sale system or a phone for customers to contact the store. Orders can still be sent via email, social media, the website or in person.
Broken glass door to the In Flower floral shop after a break-in on June 27, 2025 on East 8th Street in Sioux Falls, resulting in damaged property and stolen items and cash
“This one has hit especially hard,” Thi said. “I’m feeling tired and overwhelmed, but I’m trying to stay hopeful and focus on moving forward.”
Daylily Coffee reported much less in loss, with only a small amount of cash and even toilet paper stolen. The coffee and roaster were left unscathed; therefore, the business has remained operational.
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As they wait for repairs to be completed, the entrepreneurs have remained extra vigilant, checking the store and one another.
“So devastating to see a small woman-owned business hit like this,” Daylily said of In Flower in a June 27 Instagram story. “Go send her your love and support. Buy some gorgeous arrangements!”
Both business owners say community support has also kept them going.
“So many people have reached out, shared our story and encouraged others to support us,” Thi said. “It’s felt incredibly special and has been such a bright spot in an overwhelming week. Knowing that our community cares and wants to see us succeed has been both encouraging and humbling. It reminds me why we love what we do and gives us hope as we work through everything.”
Vanessa Carlson Bender is the real estate and development reporter for the Sioux Falls Argus Leader. Reach her at vbender@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: Break-in leaves Daylily Coffee, In Flower with thousands in damages