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.

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

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含羞草研究社檛 stop the thieves.

含羞草研究社淭hey boldly do what they want,含羞草研究社� said Smith. They just plowed them, ripped them right out.含羞草研究社�

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

含羞草研究社淚 think it含羞草研究社檚 time we let people know,含羞草研究社� Smith confided. 含羞草研究社淚f anyone else in this area has experienced anything, let含羞草研究社檚 get together and have an action plan.

含羞草研究社淲e have to take things into our own hands. We含羞草研究社檙e sitting ducks, especially on the highway. It含羞草研究社檚 a fast getaway.含羞草研究社�

Smith proposed security measures need to be intensified.

含羞草研究社淭he more cameras you put out, the smarter they get,含羞草研究社� 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含羞草研究社檚 含羞草研究社渉eard nothing, no single follow-up at all,含羞草研究社� since the Antique Barn theft, but didn含羞草研究社檛 expect it.

含羞草研究社淭hey含羞草研究社檝e overwhelmed,含羞草研究社� he said of the police.

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

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

含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 heartbreaking,含羞草研究社� he said. 含羞草研究社淎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.含羞草研究社�

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.

含羞草研究社淲e love what we are, where we are and what we do,含羞草研究社� he said.

As a precaution now, 含羞草研究社渁bsolutely no gold or silver is left in the building,含羞草研究社� Smith added. 含羞草研究社淲e take it all out.含羞草研究社�

don.bodger@chemainusvalleycourier.ca
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