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.

香蕉视频直播淭hey knew exactly what they wanted,香蕉视频直播� Smith said. 香蕉视频直播淭hey took all of our gold and silver. All has now been removed from the premises.香蕉视频直播�

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 didn香蕉视频直播檛 stop the thieves.

香蕉视频直播淭hey boldly do what they want,香蕉视频直播� said Smith. They just plowed them, ripped them right out.香蕉视频直播�

He called police and an investigator examined the scene, but he hasn香蕉视频直播檛 heard anything since. Police also did not reveal any information to the public of the incident through the media.

香蕉视频直播淚 think it香蕉视频直播檚 time we let people know,香蕉视频直播� Smith confided. 香蕉视频直播淚f anyone else in this area has experienced anything, let香蕉视频直播檚 get together and have an action plan.

香蕉视频直播淲e have to take things into our own hands. We香蕉视频直播檙e sitting ducks, especially on the highway. It香蕉视频直播檚 a fast getaway.香蕉视频直播�

Smith proposed security measures need to be intensified.

香蕉视频直播淭he more cameras you put out, the smarter they get,香蕉视频直播� 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 he香蕉视频直播檚 香蕉视频直播渉eard nothing, no single follow-up at all,香蕉视频直播� since the Antique Barn theft, but didn香蕉视频直播檛 expect it.

香蕉视频直播淭hey香蕉视频直播檝e overwhelmed,香蕉视频直播� he said of the police.

And often when police do identify and arrest criminals, they香蕉视频直播檙e right back on the street with no consequences from the justice system.

It香蕉视频直播檚 another big hit in the post-COVID restriction time for Smith and other small businesses trying to recover.

香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 heartbreaking,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淎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.香蕉视频直播�

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.

香蕉视频直播淲e love what we are, where we are and what we do,香蕉视频直播� he said.

As a precaution now, 香蕉视频直播渁bsolutely no gold or silver is left in the building,香蕉视频直播� Smith added. 香蕉视频直播淲e take it all out.香蕉视频直播�

don.bodger@chemainusvalleycourier.ca
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