Following a string of vandalism and theft-related crimes in the last few weeks, a number of businesses near Kelowna91裸聊视频檚 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.

91裸聊视频淢y motorhome has probably been broken into three times this summer,91裸聊视频� said Hlushko.

91裸聊视频淭hat last one 91裸聊视频� we just camped the long weekend. We still had stuff in there, but they just ransacked the whole inside. It91裸聊视频檚 pretty hard on your personal life and property.91裸聊视频�

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.

91裸聊视频淪ociety is all bleeding hearts for them. I91裸聊视频檓 sorry 91裸聊视频� once you get your personal stuff stolen and everything, it starts to get hard,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淭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 don91裸聊视频檛 have any money.91裸聊视频�

READ MORE: As vaccine card rolls out, Kelowna91裸聊视频檚 top cop promises safety for businesses

Around the corner is the Columbia Bottle Depot on Kent Road, which Hlushko said you91裸聊视频檒l find people 91裸聊视频渟trung out on drugs.91裸聊视频�

91裸聊视频淓very business on Spall Road probably deals with it. This whole area 91裸聊视频� it91裸聊视频檚 just terrible lately,91裸聊视频� 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 carwash91裸聊视频檚 garbage bin have been the business91裸聊视频檚 most repetitive and frustrating crime.

91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 been escalating. As far as I91裸聊视频檝e noticed, they keep getting better tools to break in,91裸聊视频� said Bakowy. 91裸聊视频淣ow, we91裸聊视频檝e got a secure, welded lock system on there, so hopefully they can91裸聊视频檛 get through now.91裸聊视频�

As for why people are targeting the carwash91裸聊视频檚 garbage, she said she suspects that perpetrators think that there are valuable items discarded from vehicles after their wash.

91裸聊视频淏ut they must be disappointed constantly because we don91裸聊视频檛 throw out any valuable items,91裸聊视频� she said. 91裸聊视频淭hey91裸聊视频檙e clearly trying to get a few extra items, maybe make a few extra bucks.91裸聊视频�

Down the street at La-Z-Boy Furniture Galleries on Spall Road, the store91裸聊视频檚 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.

91裸聊视频淪omebody was throwing rocks over the other side of the fence,91裸聊视频� said Travis Turner, the branch manager of Kelowna91裸聊视频檚 Pro Source location. 91裸聊视频淭ook out six or seven of our windows. There were rocks scattered all throughout our store here, glass shattered everywhere.91裸聊视频�

While no theft occurred, Turner said that he doesn91裸聊视频檛 know why his store or La-Z-Boy were targets of vandalism.

91裸聊视频淚 honestly wouldn91裸聊视频檛 be surprised if it happened again,91裸聊视频� he said.

While he didn91裸聊视频檛 want to label those experiencing homelessness in the area as the culprits, he said that he has noticed an increase in homelessness activity.

91裸聊视频淭he homeless activity has been getting more and more noticeable, especially down this back alley,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淥ver the years, it91裸聊视频檚 been getting worse here and along the other side of the highway.91裸聊视频�

He added that he91裸聊视频檚 also seen an increase in drug deals and violence in the area.

91裸聊视频淭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,91裸聊视频� he said.

91裸聊视频淥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. It91裸聊视频檚 getting really bad out here.91裸聊视频�

READ MORE: Kelowna RCMP still investigating man91裸聊视频檚 racist tirade at vaccine clinic

aaron.hemens@kelownacapnews.com
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