'It's been a very tough year': Businesses on 124 Street report spike in break-ins, thefts
Two local boutiques have reopened after a break-in last month. Business owners in the area say it's an unfortunate trend that's taking an emotional and financial toll.
Pura Botanicals and So Pretty Cara Cotter, which share a storefront on 124 Street, were burglarized during the earlymorning hours of July 27.
Two thieves made off with thousands of dollars worth of jewelry and caused significant damage to the store.
A CTV News Edmonton camera captured images of smashed glass from the door as well as broken cabinets
"They smashed the front door, entered in through the glass, came in with a hatchet, and stole all the jewelry in the space from our fellow brand So Pretty Cara Cotter, broke all the cabinets, and were in and out within three minutes," said Pura Botanicals founder Lane Edwards.
The businesses were forced to close their storefront for several days while the damage was repaired.
Edwards says there have been two other recent break-in attempts at the boutique, and she says neighbouring businesses are also reporting break-ins.
"We definitely have seen how the increase in crime has affected small businesses in the downtown area and 124 Street, which has been really tough and unfortunate," she said.
Lane Edwards speaks to CTV News Edmonton's David Ewasuk after a break-in at So Pretty Cara Cotter and Pura Botanicals.
"We have an Instagram chat going with several dozens of local businesses, and every week we receive a notice that someone else has been broken into, or their front windows have been smashed. It's very difficult."
MULTIPLE BREAK-INS, THOUSANDS IN DAMAGE
Down the street at PaperDoll Clothing Co., it's a similar story.
The shop's co-owner says about two months ago, a burglar did $3,000 worth of damage to the store only to make off with $120 in cash.
Erin Mack of PaperDoll Clothing Co. (David Ewasuk/CTV News Edmonton)
"First year we've seen a break-in. It's happening all up and down the street. It's scary. As a business owner, we’ve had to put up signs that we’re not taking cash because we just can’t afford to repair the damage every time for such a small amount of cash," Erin Mack told CTV News.
"It is disheartening because, aside from feeling violated, we had to close our store for a day, and every day counts in a small business."
Mack said she and her business partner opted not to go through insurance to fix the damage because they didn't want to see their premiums increase.
"We paid for it out of pocket," she said. "The landlord did pitch in for some of it as well. But I feel bad for the businesses that have been hit multiple times. At what point can they sustain that?"
Around the corner at Miss Boss boutique, owner Sabrina Humphrey says she's one of the businesses that has experienced multiple break-ins.
"I’ve had the store for 14 years. Business has been good. This year we have experienced a lot of break-ins," she said.
"We've had four break-ins since February, and it's been a very tough year.
Sabrina Humphrey of Miss Boss boutique in Edmonton. (David Ewasuk/CTV News Edmonton)
"It's absolutely been an emotional rollercoaster, financially and emotionally. Just to get these calls at 3 a.m. that your store is broken into. It's a headache and it’s just really tough to kind of want to continue to go on after this happens repeatedly."
Humphrey says she's also had to make changes to store policies to protect her business.
"We’ve had to take further measures for security, and we've had to put a lot of things away, take things with us that we normally wouldn’t do just to keep ourselves protected at night."
THIEVES STILL AT LARGE
All of the women say police have not been able to find the people responsible for the break-ins at their businesses.
"The police have been great, but I think their hands are tied, too. They haven't, I don’t think, had success in catching any of the thieves," Humphrey said.
"It sort of seemed like this is just another in a long string of break-ins that there wasn't too much excitement over it," Mack said. "We actually went and found our cash drawer ourselves, which was just around the corner, and had to call them back to come and process for prints. We've still not heard anything back."
CTV News Edmonton reached out to the 124 Street Business Association, but they declined to comment.
Edwards says something needs to change before businesses are forced to close.
"To have a street-front store as is in Edmonton, it’s definitely an investment in time and energy and devotion to our culture of being Edmonton city for shopping, versus just being a mall city," she said. "It's getting more difficult."
The Edmonton Police Service also declined to comment on the story.
With files from CTV News Edmonton's David Ewasuk
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Trump threatens to try to take back the Panama Canal. Panama's president balks at the suggestion
Donald Trump suggested Sunday that his new administration could try to regain control of the Panama Canal that the United States “foolishly” ceded to its Central American ally, contending that shippers are charged “ridiculous” fees to pass through the vital transportation channel linking the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.
Man handed 5th distracted driving charge for using cell phone on Hwy. 417 in Ottawa
An Ottawa driver was charged for using a cell phone behind the wheel on Sunday, the fifth time he has faced distracted driving charges.
Wrongfully convicted N.B. man has mixed feelings since exoneration
Robert Mailman, 76, was exonerated on Jan. 4 of a 1983 murder for which he and his friend Walter Gillespie served lengthy prison terms.
What's open and closed over the holidays in Canada
As Canadians take time off to celebrate the holidays, many federal offices, stores and businesses will be closed across the country on Christmas Day and New Year's Day.
Can the Governor General do what Pierre Poilievre is asking? This expert says no
A historically difficult week for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his Liberal government ended with a renewed push from Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre to topple this government – this time in the form a letter to the Governor General.
opinion Christmas movies for people who don't like Christmas movies
The holidays can bring up a whole gamut of emotions, not just love and goodwill. So CTV film critic Richard Crouse offers up a list of Christmas movies for people who might not enjoy traditional Christmas movies.
More than 7,000 Jeep SUVs recalled in Canada over camera display concern
A software issue potentially affecting the rearview camera display in select Jeep Wagoneer and Grand Cherokee models has prompted a recall of more than 7,000 vehicles.
'I'm still thinking pinch me': lost puppy reunited with family after five years
After almost five years of searching and never giving up hope, the Tuffin family received the best Christmas gift they could have hoped for: being reunited with their long-lost puppy.
10 hospitalized after carbon monoxide poisoning in Ottawa's east end
The Ottawa Police Service says ten people were taken to hospital, with one of them in life-threatening condition, after being exposed to carbon monoxide in the neighbourhood of Vanier on Sunday morning.