Image: Supplied by Pixabay / The Downtown Chilliwack Business Improvement Association is reporting a recent uptick in broken windows and doors in the downtown core.

By Mike Vanden Bosch

Downtown crime

Downtown Chilliwack BIA reports rash of broken windows, doors to downtown businesses

Aug 16, 2022 | 7:35 AM

CHILLIWACK — Downtown Chilliwack business owners and merchants are urged to take proactive action following a recent surge in downtown vandalism.

The Downtown Chilliwack Business Improvement Association is reporting a rash of broken windows and doors in the downtown sector, prompting a communique from the business advocacy group to start the week.

The BIA disseminated an email Monday morning (Aug. 15) asking downtown business owners and tenants to ensure that their alarm system is motion activated.

The email stated, “We have had a rash of broken windows and doors in the downtown [area] as of late. A number of times, merchants reported that they were unaware of the incidents due to no notification from their alarms.”

Merchants are asked to ensure that windows and doors are motion activated to trigger alarms.

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As an additional deterrent, the BIA argues that cameras have proven highly effective in mitigating the amount of vandalism and theft in the downtown business core.

“We would ask merchants to consider adding cameras to their front windows in a highly visible location to deter possible break and enter,” the communique noted. “RCMP can use footage from multiple cameras to assist in identification of possible criminal activity.”

The email goes on to say installing night vision cameras can be the difference between identifying a suspect and having no evidence to pursue an investigation.

“In many cases to date, suspects were not identified due to the age of the camera being used,” the email said. “Low-resolution images and images taken at night without infrared cameras are useless for identification. Camera prices have dropped significantly in the past two years and the quality is amazing.”

When break-and-enters do occur, communication among merchants is essential to identify what the BIA refers to as “hot spots” in the area. Merchants and business owners are urged to report all crimes to the RCMP in order to build case files based on similar incidents.

Lastly, the BIA says it has Broken Glass Grants available for up to $500 per building, per year, for broken glass. Funds are part of a limited budget per year and are available until monies are depleted.