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.

91裸聊视频淭hey knew exactly what they wanted,91裸聊视频� Smith said. 91裸聊视频淭hey took all of our gold and silver. All has now been removed from the premises.91裸聊视频�

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 didn91裸聊视频檛 stop the thieves.

91裸聊视频淭hey boldly do what they want,91裸聊视频� said Smith. They just plowed them, ripped them right out.91裸聊视频�

He called police and an investigator examined the scene, but he hasn91裸聊视频檛 heard anything since. Police also did not reveal any information to the public of the incident through the media.

91裸聊视频淚 think it91裸聊视频檚 time we let people know,91裸聊视频� Smith confided. 91裸聊视频淚f anyone else in this area has experienced anything, let91裸聊视频檚 get together and have an action plan.

91裸聊视频淲e have to take things into our own hands. We91裸聊视频檙e sitting ducks, especially on the highway. It91裸聊视频檚 a fast getaway.91裸聊视频�

Smith proposed security measures need to be intensified.

91裸聊视频淭he more cameras you put out, the smarter they get,91裸聊视频� 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 he91裸聊视频檚 91裸聊视频渉eard nothing, no single follow-up at all,91裸聊视频� since the Antique Barn theft, but didn91裸聊视频檛 expect it.

91裸聊视频淭hey91裸聊视频檝e overwhelmed,91裸聊视频� he said of the police.

And often when police do identify and arrest criminals, they91裸聊视频檙e right back on the street with no consequences from the justice system.

It91裸聊视频檚 another big hit in the post-COVID restriction time for Smith and other small businesses trying to recover.

91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 heartbreaking,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淎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.91裸聊视频�

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.

91裸聊视频淲e love what we are, where we are and what we do,91裸聊视频� he said.

As a precaution now, 91裸聊视频渁bsolutely no gold or silver is left in the building,91裸聊视频� Smith added. 91裸聊视频淲e take it all out.91裸聊视频�

don.bodger@chemainusvalleycourier.ca
Like us on and follow us on .