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.

sa国际传媒淭hey knew exactly what they wanted,sa国际传媒� Smith said. sa国际传媒淭hey took all of our gold and silver. All has now been removed from the premises.sa国际传媒�

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 didnsa国际传媒檛 stop the thieves.

sa国际传媒淭hey boldly do what they want,sa国际传媒� said Smith. They just plowed them, ripped them right out.sa国际传媒�

He called police and an investigator examined the scene, but he hasnsa国际传媒檛 heard anything since. Police also did not reveal any information to the public of the incident through the media.

sa国际传媒淚 think itsa国际传媒檚 time we let people know,sa国际传媒� Smith confided. sa国际传媒淚f anyone else in this area has experienced anything, letsa国际传媒檚 get together and have an action plan.

sa国际传媒淲e have to take things into our own hands. Wesa国际传媒檙e sitting ducks, especially on the highway. Itsa国际传媒檚 a fast getaway.sa国际传媒�

Smith proposed security measures need to be intensified.

sa国际传媒淭he more cameras you put out, the smarter they get,sa国际传媒� 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 hesa国际传媒檚 sa国际传媒渉eard nothing, no single follow-up at all,sa国际传媒� since the Antique Barn theft, but didnsa国际传媒檛 expect it.

sa国际传媒淭heysa国际传媒檝e overwhelmed,sa国际传媒� he said of the police.

And often when police do identify and arrest criminals, theysa国际传媒檙e right back on the street with no consequences from the justice system.

Itsa国际传媒檚 another big hit in the post-COVID restriction time for Smith and other small businesses trying to recover.

sa国际传媒淚tsa国际传媒檚 heartbreaking,sa国际传媒� he said. sa国际传媒淎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.sa国际传媒�

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.

sa国际传媒淲e love what we are, where we are and what we do,sa国际传媒� he said.

As a precaution now, sa国际传媒渁bsolutely no gold or silver is left in the building,sa国际传媒� Smith added. sa国际传媒淲e take it all out.sa国际传媒�

don.bodger@chemainusvalleycourier.ca
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