Staff at Clubcard, a Vancouver printing shop, thought having two deadbolt locks, security cameras and an alarm system would be enough. Then they watched the security footage of a burglar making his way inside the printing store in less a minute.
“They seemed to know what they were doing to get in so quickly,” said Michael Nunweiler, general manager.
Despite the alarm sounding, the thief still took the time to enter searching for a cash box, eventually leaving empty-handed. Still, the break-in early Saturday morning is raising concerns by area business operators who say they’re the victims of a spike in crime.
“We’d like information on just how severe this is,” said Nunweiler.
Using Vancouver Police crime map data, Global News has learned over the past 12 months there have been 154 commercial break and enters in Gastown, and 35 break-ins to date in 2016.
“If that’s what is happening, obviously there’s concern,” said Leanore Sali, executive director of the Gastown Business Improvement Association. “Definitely, it’s what we can do, what can the police advise.”
Sali said she does not have up-to-date numbers, but the BIA has a scheduled meeting with the police on Wednesday. Break-ins of local businesses is on the agenda.
Nunweiler said while many businesses expect a certain level of disruption due to the proximity to the downtown eastside, he wonders if something more can be done to protect them.
“You feel a lot more vulnerable, that’s for sure.”