CASSIDY LAKE, N.B. – A group of residents in a rural New Brunswick community are pressuring a nearby youth rehabilitation centre to improve their security measures after several incidents in the neighbourhood.
A recent break-and-enter into his Cassidy Lake home and theft of his car left Sean Monahan and his family uneasy.
He said sometime through the night of Nov. 1, three teens broke into his home, took his car keys and then stole his car, while he and his family slept.
The teens also broke into several other vehicles in the area, taking a variety of items.
“The cop even knew as soon as he got out of the car, he said there’s three youths from Portage that left last night. He said, ‘chances are, that’s who took your car,'” Monahan said.
Portage Atlantic is a rehabilitation centre for young people dealing with substance abuse. It’s just two kilometres down the road from where the Monahans live.
The car was found a couple days later in the Moncton area, damaged inside and out.
It caused Monahan and several other homeowners in the Cassidy Lake area to contact Portage Atlantic and their local MLA about their concerns.
Portage opened the residential facility along Cassidy Lake, near Sussex, in 1996. Since then, the facility has helped more than 2,500 youth from N.B. and other Atlantic provinces garner freedom from their addiction.
While it’s a residential facility, it’s not a jail. It’s a voluntary program – and no one is forced to stay, despite some youth coming to the centre under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, as “open custody” cases.
Sometimes, the teens act on impulse and leave, says Director Kathie Rodger.
“Unfortunately, they’ve created some victims in the neighbourhood,” she said. “Certainly, we as Portage are empathetic to those people. We don’t want to see victims out there. We want to be good neighbours and good stewards of the neighbourhood.”
Since then, Rodger has met with several of the residents in the area, including Monahan. She said she is working on improving the security of the facility, looking at options like more lighting, a better alarm system or cameras.
“We also will, upon intake and admission, explain that you know – you don’t need to be climbing out windows,” she said. “If you really are not happy and you don’t think this is where you want to be then do it responsibly, in a mature fashion, and take your leave.”
Rodger said she has also had a meeting with the youth at the facility, some of whom were upset at the actions of their peers. She feels many of the youth at Portage will step up their efforts and practice “therapeutic community principals.”
Sean Monahan has also started a neighbourhood watch group.
If a young person has left Portage, Rodger says she will continue to contact RCMP and staff, but she’s added Monahan’s number to the list.
Once Monahan has been contacted that a teen has left, he will let others in the area know.
“I just want them to be more proactive, for their safety and for ours,” said Monahan.
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