Break-ins, violence: Winnipeg businesses meet to address escalating crime

Escalating crime in Winnipeg has led some business owners to call a meeting to discuss the issue – and possible solutions.

The Four Crowns Inn on McPhillips Street, for instance, has dealt with a lot in the past month alone.

There have been alleged pepper-spray incidents, staff getting hit in the early hours of the morning, four separate attempted break-ins, and two successful break-ins.

In one of the odder incidents, someone stole the business’ lobby rugs and ran around, wearing them like a cape.

“For some reason, this summer, the last few months, it’s just been a nightmare for us,” said Four Crowns Inn owner Ravi Ramberran.

“It’s like brazen, nonsensical crime.”

Ramberran says his business isn’t alone in seeing this uptick in crime.

Nicole Oliver, who manages Pup Paradise right across the street from Four Crowns, says a person broke into the dog daycare and grooming business.

It’s something Oliver says she never thought would happen. But she she doesn’t think the vandalizers are paying much attention to what the business does.

“My phone was blowing up, missed calls and texts saying someone is breaking into your shop,” said Oliver. “Then I got sent the photo of my door.

“The guy right beside us, I noticed his door was boarded up. Then I noticed Panda Tea, that’s the same week we got broken into, and the Crown two or three times.”

And it seems to extend beyond businesses.

Pup Paradise groomer Mikayla Stark-Pugh says they just built a fence at their home because of the crime at night.

“We had people in our yard sporadically, at their own leisure, and people coming through on their bikes like our yard was a walkway,” said Stark-Pugh.

Community meeting to address crime

Ramberran says this is why they’re holding a community meeting on Friday.

Neighbourhood businesses will discuss sharing costs for a mobile security unit at night. They also want to start a community chat group to warn other businesses when someone’s alarm is tripped.

Ramberran says most area businesses have already RSVP’d. He’s asking anyone else who’s interested to come to the meeting as well.

“If this goes on, people just won’t come out anymore,” he said. “That’s where we lose, so we need to step up and do something about it.”

The group also plans to take their concerns to police.