A Chemainus business owner is sounding the alarm about crime in the region after $100,000 worth of gold and silver jewelry was stolen from the Highway Antique Barn on the Trans-Canada Highway at Henry Road.
Kevin Smith said his business was broken into during the early-morning hours of Feb. 17 and three glass cabinets were smashed. Thieves were in and out within a matter of minutes.
B次元官网网址淭hey knew exactly what they wanted,B次元官网网址� Smith said. B次元官网网址淭hey took all of our gold and silver. All has now been removed from the premises.B次元官网网址�
The doors at the front of the building were ripped out to gain access. The doors were both bolted in at the top, but that didnB次元官网网址檛 stop the thieves.
B次元官网网址淭hey boldly do what they want,B次元官网网址� said Smith. They just plowed them, ripped them right out.B次元官网网址�
He called police and an investigator examined the scene, but he hasnB次元官网网址檛 heard anything since. Police also did not reveal any information to the public of the incident through the media.
B次元官网网址淚 think itB次元官网网址檚 time we let people know,B次元官网网址� Smith confided. B次元官网网址淚f anyone else in this area has experienced anything, letB次元官网网址檚 get together and have an action plan.
B次元官网网址淲e have to take things into our own hands. WeB次元官网网址檙e sitting ducks, especially on the highway. ItB次元官网网址檚 a fast getaway.B次元官网网址�
Smith proposed security measures need to be intensified.
B次元官网网址淭he more cameras you put out, the smarter they get,B次元官网网址� he said.
Most of the thieves, he added, are aware of the presence of security cameras and can easily avoid them or wear balaclavas and dark clothing to conceal their identities. A better solution, Smith indicated, might be for businesses to chip in for a full-time security guard to monitor several neighbouring businesses.
There was also a car-jacking at knife point the previous weekend at the Haida-Way Restaurant directly beside the Antique Barn to the south. Police did not issue any information or alert to the public about that incident because the General Investigation Section working on the case thought its ongoing efforts might be compromised.
Information on two other serious crimes in the vicinity late last year and earlier this year was released, including the theft of an ATM machine at the Co-op gas station, again right next to the Antique Barn on the north side.
Smith said heB次元官网网址檚 B次元官网网址渉eard nothing, no single follow-up at all,B次元官网网址� since the Antique Barn theft, but didnB次元官网网址檛 expect it.
B次元官网网址淭heyB次元官网网址檝e overwhelmed,B次元官网网址� he said of the police.
And often when police do identify and arrest criminals, theyB次元官网网址檙e right back on the street with no consequences from the justice system.
ItB次元官网网址檚 another big hit in the post-COVID restriction time for Smith and other small businesses trying to recover.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 heartbreaking,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淎nd the B.C. government has obviously nothing in the budget for small business owners. Everyone gets money but us. We are the ones that are probably suffering the most.B次元官网网址�
Smith plans to soldier on and hopes everyone in business and the community will be on guard to combat theft all the more after knowing about this incident.
B次元官网网址淲e love what we are, where we are and what we do,B次元官网网址� he said.
As a precaution now, B次元官网网址渁bsolutely no gold or silver is left in the building,B次元官网网址� Smith added. B次元官网网址淲e take it all out.B次元官网网址�
don.bodger@chemainusvalleycourier.ca
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