Attempt to Crack Open Safe Sets Off Gas Canister

The Rochester fire department was called to the Canadian Honker restaurant Friday afternoon to ventilate the basement of the business after the son of the owner tried to break into an old safe.

Nick Powers told officials the combination to the lock had been long forgotten and he was trying to pry open the safe using a screwdriver and a hammer. Through his efforts, he inadvertently activated an anti-theft feature, which involved the discharge of a canister of a teargas-like chemical inside the safe.

Powers suffered irritation to his face and eyes, but did not require treatment.