Crime has increased exponentially in the British Columbia Windy City in the downtown business district and surrounding malls and residential areas.
Two malls on Columbia Street have had a total of 10 break and enters in the last six months with some stores being the victims of repeat incidents, one staff member stabbed & hospitalized and one dead body dumped.
The first photo below is of two suspects removing recyclable bottles from a storage shed. The second one is another attempt where they removed the door itself.
The phot below is of a phone repair store, the entry of which is visible.
What is the answer? Walking patrols in both malls from 9 pm to 7 am? Motorized security is ineffective. At what point do the mall managers take responsibility for keeping their tenants safe?
Are these petty crimes which are not indictable? Would they cease if this was the response to being caught?
The above photo is of the former bus depot converted into a homeless shelter
This building looks like a prison. No windows. Broken entry. Drab exterior. Uninviting. We suspect the interior is similarly depressing.
Compare the above with the one below. In which building would you feel uplifted, welcome and want to live?
We are not simply housing homeless citizens, we are helping them become contributing members of society.
Photo courtesy of Unsplash.
Columbia Square 4 am March 20
March 20, 4 am. Summit Square across the street from bus depot.
British Columbia crime stats and clearance rates.
2020 there were 98 homicides with 33 charges. 33% clearance rate.
How do we reverse this?
Fresco shopping carts torched. 3-10-2022
"COMMUNITY SERVICE OFFICERS"
No longer By Law Officers responding to barking dogs, Kamloops has trained officers to deal with rising street issues.
"The city’s CAO, David Trawin, said the city is nearing a full complement of community services officers, with 19 officers set to graduate from training this week.
He [Mayor Ken Christian] said community services officers operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week and are now trained to handle street issues, which have increased during the pandemic."
https://www.kamloopsthisweek.com/local-news/city-of-kamloops-union-getting-set-for-arbitration-hearing-over-bylaws-department-changes-5131706?fbclid=IwAR1nJAgExv4R_UXwepHPgFCKhZp6TQTYItdG7GJ_bNRZ1kanhABvJqme434
Photos courtesy Unsplash
VANDALISM, VAGRANCY, HOMELESSNESS, PETTY CRIME-"BROKEN WINDOW THEORY"
Would applying "Broken Window" policing make a difference?
https://www.jonathanmccormick.com/forum/crime-prevention/vandalism-vagrancy-homelessness-petty-crime-broken-window-theory
Upper Sahali on Summit camped inside the dumpster compound. March 7, 2022 4 am.
Would you allow your children to play here?
As one reader posted on FB, "Our By Law Enforcement Officers have failed us."
I hope this post with its close to 100 readers will continue to be shared and move Kamloops to regain control. That building above that looks like a black box is depressing.
"Human progress is neither automatic nor inevitable. Every step toward the goal of justice requires sacrifice, suffering, and struggle; the tireless exertions and passionate concern of dedicated individuals." Martin Luther King Jr.
I wish all women and girls knew how to defend themselves.
Update:
March 3 Yesterday
WOMAN ROBBED ON DAGLEISH IN LOWER SAHALI-TRU RESIDENCES @ 4:50 A.M.
KAMLOOPS — RCMP in Kamloops are asking for the public’s help tracking down a man who robbed a woman at knifepoint early Thursday morning (Mar. 3). Mounties were called to a parkade at a complex in the 500-block of Dalgleish Drive at about 4:50 a.m. Thursday. A woman there reported she was robbed while sitting in her vehicle. A man had approached with a knife, opened her door and stole her purse. The victim lost a Hello Kitty wallet, a black Volcom purse and a set of keys. Suspect description:
White
Slim
About 35 years old
The public is asked to keep an eye open for the stolen items and review overnight surveillance footage to see if an image of the suspect was captured. Anyone with further information is asked to contact Kamloops RCMP at (250) 828-3000 and quote file number 2022-6724.
I've never been to Kamloops but I see many comparisons to mine, Santa Barbara, California. We had spent millions in services for the homeless which seemed to grow similarly, exponentially with people gravitating from colder states.
The more services we provided, the more homelessness we experienced. Maintaining a clean city was one of the major factors with garbage, human waste and personal belongings literally scattered all over.
Many women and teens refused to overnight in the shelters for fear of being assaulted. Our police, fire and ambulance services were overwhelmed.
I agree that the last post. That building is inviting.
We need to do something similar. Is the city going to paint the homeless shelter?