especially for a business that has had to fix broken windows at its store repeatedly.
The thickness of the glass and the obvious barriers behind it installed months ago for extra security were not enough to deter a now common and costly crime. “First thing was a call to the glass company in the middle of the night,” Josh Bloomfield said, Cycle City’s owner. “Because of gates and security, no one got in, but we are left with quite a mess to clean up.”Bloomfield said those doing business in Vancouver budget for security, but many can not keep up with the frequency of break-ins and acts of vandalism.“ could cost anywhere from $3,000 to $12,000,” Bloomfield told Global News.
Bloomfield has applied for the grant with his fingers crossed for approval. He does not believe more policing will solve the issue in downtown Vancouver.“Clearly more mental health services are needed,” said Bloomfield. “It is really the financial and emotional impact that something like this has. It’s the worst part.”