A downtown Nanaimo business was vandalized and broken into for the sixth time in a month, leaving the business owner feeling B次元官网网址渄isgusted and grossB次元官网网址� with the state of the neighbourhood.

The owner of the Vault Caf茅, Amanda Scott, said her business was hit twice over the weekend, with the latest incident being reported to police early Monday, April 3, between 4:30-5:30 a.m., resulting in stolen merchandise.

According to RCMP, a hole was found in the glass door with a potted plant inside the building that appears to have been thrown into the business. The Vault also suffered damage to the main front window along Wallace Street, seemingly unrelated to the break-and-enter. Police records also noted that four panes of glass had been smashed over the last month.

In mid March, Scott reported spotting two people near the rear of the business trying to climb a pipe to the roof, allegedly attempting to break in through the skylight.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e been here nine years B次元官网网址� never once a window broken,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淲hatB次元官网网址檚 happened B次元官网网址� has never happened, not during the B次元官网网址榯ent cityB次元官网网址� era, or any of that. Right now itB次元官网网址檚 the worst IB次元官网网址檝e ever seen it.B次元官网网址�

Scott doesnB次元官网网址檛 believe her business is being specifically targeted, but that the criminal activity is a symptom of the degradation of the neighbourhood, adding that she and other business owners feel B次元官网网址渙utnumbered.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淚 have all the compassion in my heart for those folks [experiencing homelessness] B次元官网网址� itB次元官网网址檚 not a chosen life B次元官网网址� but the desperation is just so unbelievable,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 throwing down thousands and thousands of dollars just trying to clean up a mess.B次元官网网址�

In response to the repeated incidents, Scott said her employees no longer open early by themselves since the B次元官网网址渕ornings are terrifyingB次元官网网址� and she has even contemplated adjusting business hours and no longer hosting live performances.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e had to have my dad come sleep in the restaurant overnight if IB次元官网网址檓 not there B次元官网网址� We have to have someone stay in the shop now, 24/7. And if weB次元官网网址檙e not there, then someone smashes windows and breaks in,B次元官网网址� she said.

Reserve Const. Gary OB次元官网网址橞rien, Nanaimo RCMP spokesperson, confirmed that several other businesses in the downtown core have recently been vandalized as well, some with no apparent attempts to break in.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 become relatively normal now, where itB次元官网网址檚 happening late at nightB次元官网网址�B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淢arginalized people with significant mental health issues who happen to be in the downtown core B次元官网网址� often get a fixation on a certain building.B次元官网网址�

Scott suggested either having RCMP posted in the neighbourhood, or re-opening of the downtown community policing office, might provide a police presence that could dissuade the criminal activity.

In the meantime, the caf茅B次元官网网址檚 owner hired a muralist to paint the outside wood of the shattered window so B次元官网网址渄owntown looks a little less terrifyingB次元官网网址� as they wait for glass replacements.

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mandy.moraes@nanaimobulletin.com
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