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.

害羞草研究所淭hey knew exactly what they wanted,害羞草研究所� Smith said. 害羞草研究所淭hey took all of our gold and silver. All has now been removed from the premises.害羞草研究所�

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害羞草研究所檛 stop the thieves.

害羞草研究所淭hey boldly do what they want,害羞草研究所� said Smith. They just plowed them, ripped them right out.害羞草研究所�

He called police and an investigator examined the scene, but he hasn害羞草研究所檛 heard anything since. Police also did not reveal any information to the public of the incident through the media.

害羞草研究所淚 think it害羞草研究所檚 time we let people know,害羞草研究所� Smith confided. 害羞草研究所淚f anyone else in this area has experienced anything, let害羞草研究所檚 get together and have an action plan.

害羞草研究所淲e have to take things into our own hands. We害羞草研究所檙e sitting ducks, especially on the highway. It害羞草研究所檚 a fast getaway.害羞草研究所�

Smith proposed security measures need to be intensified.

害羞草研究所淭he more cameras you put out, the smarter they get,害羞草研究所� 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害羞草研究所檚 害羞草研究所渉eard nothing, no single follow-up at all,害羞草研究所� since the Antique Barn theft, but didn害羞草研究所檛 expect it.

害羞草研究所淭hey害羞草研究所檝e overwhelmed,害羞草研究所� he said of the police.

And often when police do identify and arrest criminals, they害羞草研究所檙e right back on the street with no consequences from the justice system.

It害羞草研究所檚 another big hit in the post-COVID restriction time for Smith and other small businesses trying to recover.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 heartbreaking,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淎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.害羞草研究所�

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.

害羞草研究所淲e love what we are, where we are and what we do,害羞草研究所� he said.

As a precaution now, 害羞草研究所渁bsolutely no gold or silver is left in the building,害羞草研究所� Smith added. 害羞草研究所淲e take it all out.害羞草研究所�

don.bodger@chemainusvalleycourier.ca
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