If you own a business in Saint John, you know property crime continues to frustrate store owners across the Maritimes. Now, three businesses on the east side of the city are taking matters into their own hands. The Power Store, Loch Lomond Mitsubishi, and the Loch Lomond Home Hardware Building Centre have joined forces to create the Saint John Security Coalition.

According to a recent report from CTV News Atlantic, these neighboring businesses face repeated thefts and vandalism. To protect their livelihoods, the coalition hired two security guards to patrol their properties every night.

Rising Costs of Vandalism and Theft

Thieves recently targeted all three locations. Mitsubishi lost a truck and deals with ongoing thefts of gas and catalytic converters. The Power Store lost three ATVs. Home Hardware faces repeated robbery attempts.

Loch Lomond Mitsubishi general manager Fred Chamberlain notes the extreme costs associated with these crimes. Thieves cut through wires and surrounding parts to remove catalytic converters. A replacement that normally costs $1,500 now costs the dealership $5,000 due to the extensive damage left behind.

Nightly Patrols Focus on Deterrence

The new security team patrols the properties in a truck outfitted with custom decals and spotlights. The guards take detailed notes throughout the night to track suspicious activity.

The primary goal of the coalition is deterrence. Power Store sales manager Matt Francis explains that cameras only record events after they happen. He believes the era of using cameras as a primary deterrent is over.

Francis says arriving at work on a Monday morning to find compromised security feels absolutely demoralizing. He respects the business owners for stepping up and making this security initiative a reality.

Organized Retail Crime in Atlantic Canada

Retail Council of Canada Atlantic director Jim Cormier identifies these incidents as organized retail crime. Criminals steal high value items and resell them on online marketplaces within hours. The profits fund illicit activities like drugs and prostitution.

Cormier advises any business hiring private security to consult with local police. This ensures business owners understand exactly what security personnel can and cannot do when they catch criminals in the act.

Frequently Asked Questions

What businesses are in the Saint John Security Coalition?

The coalition includes The Power Store, Loch Lomond Mitsubishi, and the Loch Lomond Home Hardware Building Centre.

Why did these businesses hire private security?

The businesses experienced repeated thefts of vehicles, ATVs, and catalytic converters. They hired security to deter criminals from entering their properties at night.

How do the security guards patrol the area?

Two guards patrol the three properties every night using a truck equipped with custom decals and spotlights.

What happens to the stolen items?

Experts say organized criminal groups steal these items and quickly resell them on online marketplaces to fund other illegal activities.