Following a string of vandalism and theft-related crimes in the last few weeks, a number of businesses near Kelowna香蕉视频直播檚 Landmark District are worried that the situation will only get worse.

Mike Hlushko, the owner and manager of Minit-Tune & Brake Auto Centres on Springfield Road, said that in his 20 years in Kelowna, the recent theft and vandalism in the area has been at an all-time high.

香蕉视频直播淢y motorhome has probably been broken into three times this summer,香蕉视频直播� said Hlushko.

香蕉视频直播淭hat last one 香蕉视频直播� we just camped the long weekend. We still had stuff in there, but they just ransacked the whole inside. It香蕉视频直播檚 pretty hard on your personal life and property.香蕉视频直播�

The most recent theft saw thieves take a flat-screen TV and a memory foam mattress from his motor home, which he parked behind the auto shop. The fence surrounding the area had been cut, and Hlushko said that he suspects that those living on the margins of society are responsible for the crime.

香蕉视频直播淪ociety is all bleeding hearts for them. I香蕉视频直播檓 sorry 香蕉视频直播� once you get your personal stuff stolen and everything, it starts to get hard,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淭he police told me that their hands are tied. They do a bunch of paperwork and then they let them out the other side. They don香蕉视频直播檛 have any money.香蕉视频直播�

READ MORE: As vaccine card rolls out, Kelowna香蕉视频直播檚 top cop promises safety for businesses

Around the corner is the Columbia Bottle Depot on Kent Road, which Hlushko said you香蕉视频直播檒l find people 香蕉视频直播渟trung out on drugs.香蕉视频直播�

香蕉视频直播淓very business on Spall Road probably deals with it. This whole area 香蕉视频直播� it香蕉视频直播檚 just terrible lately,香蕉视频直播� he said.

Down the street at the Sonic Wash Express on Springfield Road, HR administrator and trainer Karissa Bakowy said that attempts of break-ins at the carwash香蕉视频直播檚 garbage bin have been the business香蕉视频直播檚 most repetitive and frustrating crime.

香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 been escalating. As far as I香蕉视频直播檝e noticed, they keep getting better tools to break in,香蕉视频直播� said Bakowy. 香蕉视频直播淣ow, we香蕉视频直播檝e got a secure, welded lock system on there, so hopefully they can香蕉视频直播檛 get through now.香蕉视频直播�

As for why people are targeting the carwash香蕉视频直播檚 garbage, she said she suspects that perpetrators think that there are valuable items discarded from vehicles after their wash.

香蕉视频直播淏ut they must be disappointed constantly because we don香蕉视频直播檛 throw out any valuable items,香蕉视频直播� she said. 香蕉视频直播淭hey香蕉视频直播檙e clearly trying to get a few extra items, maybe make a few extra bucks.香蕉视频直播�

Down the street at La-Z-Boy Furniture Galleries on Spall Road, the store香蕉视频直播檚 windows were smashed by unknown assailants, while no thefts were reported. Right next door at ProSource Irrigation Supply, this business also had its windows vandalized.

香蕉视频直播淪omebody was throwing rocks over the other side of the fence,香蕉视频直播� said Travis Turner, the branch manager of Kelowna香蕉视频直播檚 Pro Source location. 香蕉视频直播淭ook out six or seven of our windows. There were rocks scattered all throughout our store here, glass shattered everywhere.香蕉视频直播�

While no theft occurred, Turner said that he doesn香蕉视频直播檛 know why his store or La-Z-Boy were targets of vandalism.

香蕉视频直播淚 honestly wouldn香蕉视频直播檛 be surprised if it happened again,香蕉视频直播� he said.

While he didn香蕉视频直播檛 want to label those experiencing homelessness in the area as the culprits, he said that he has noticed an increase in homelessness activity.

香蕉视频直播淭he homeless activity has been getting more and more noticeable, especially down this back alley,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淥ver the years, it香蕉视频直播檚 been getting worse here and along the other side of the highway.香蕉视频直播�

He added that he香蕉视频直播檚 also seen an increase in drug deals and violence in the area.

香蕉视频直播淭wo weeks ago, I saw two guys over here. One was in a fetal position on the ground, the other guy was stomping on his head,香蕉视频直播� he said.

香蕉视频直播淥ne of our employees was walking out for lunch, and I heard someone yelling again. I looked up and he was being yelled at by a homeless guy across the street. It香蕉视频直播檚 getting really bad out here.香蕉视频直播�

READ MORE: Kelowna RCMP still investigating man香蕉视频直播檚 racist tirade at vaccine clinic

aaron.hemens@kelownacapnews.com
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