Following a string of vandalism and theft-related crimes in the last few weeks, a number of businesses near Kelowna害羞草研究所檚 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.

害羞草研究所淢y motorhome has probably been broken into three times this summer,害羞草研究所� said Hlushko.

害羞草研究所淭hat last one 害羞草研究所� we just camped the long weekend. We still had stuff in there, but they just ransacked the whole inside. It害羞草研究所檚 pretty hard on your personal life and property.害羞草研究所�

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.

害羞草研究所淪ociety is all bleeding hearts for them. I害羞草研究所檓 sorry 害羞草研究所� once you get your personal stuff stolen and everything, it starts to get hard,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淭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害羞草研究所檛 have any money.害羞草研究所�

READ MORE: As vaccine card rolls out, Kelowna害羞草研究所檚 top cop promises safety for businesses

Around the corner is the Columbia Bottle Depot on Kent Road, which Hlushko said you害羞草研究所檒l find people 害羞草研究所渟trung out on drugs.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淓very business on Spall Road probably deals with it. This whole area 害羞草研究所� it害羞草研究所檚 just terrible lately,害羞草研究所� 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害羞草研究所檚 garbage bin have been the business害羞草研究所檚 most repetitive and frustrating crime.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 been escalating. As far as I害羞草研究所檝e noticed, they keep getting better tools to break in,害羞草研究所� said Bakowy. 害羞草研究所淣ow, we害羞草研究所檝e got a secure, welded lock system on there, so hopefully they can害羞草研究所檛 get through now.害羞草研究所�

As for why people are targeting the carwash害羞草研究所檚 garbage, she said she suspects that perpetrators think that there are valuable items discarded from vehicles after their wash.

害羞草研究所淏ut they must be disappointed constantly because we don害羞草研究所檛 throw out any valuable items,害羞草研究所� she said. 害羞草研究所淭hey害羞草研究所檙e clearly trying to get a few extra items, maybe make a few extra bucks.害羞草研究所�

Down the street at La-Z-Boy Furniture Galleries on Spall Road, the store害羞草研究所檚 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.

害羞草研究所淪omebody was throwing rocks over the other side of the fence,害羞草研究所� said Travis Turner, the branch manager of Kelowna害羞草研究所檚 Pro Source location. 害羞草研究所淭ook out six or seven of our windows. There were rocks scattered all throughout our store here, glass shattered everywhere.害羞草研究所�

While no theft occurred, Turner said that he doesn害羞草研究所檛 know why his store or La-Z-Boy were targets of vandalism.

害羞草研究所淚 honestly wouldn害羞草研究所檛 be surprised if it happened again,害羞草研究所� he said.

While he didn害羞草研究所檛 want to label those experiencing homelessness in the area as the culprits, he said that he has noticed an increase in homelessness activity.

害羞草研究所淭he homeless activity has been getting more and more noticeable, especially down this back alley,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淥ver the years, it害羞草研究所檚 been getting worse here and along the other side of the highway.害羞草研究所�

He added that he害羞草研究所檚 also seen an increase in drug deals and violence in the area.

害羞草研究所淭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,害羞草研究所� he said.

害羞草研究所淥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害羞草研究所檚 getting really bad out here.害羞草研究所�

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aaron.hemens@kelownacapnews.com
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