Image Credit: CFJC Today / Jill Sperling

By Jill Sperling

Criminal behaviour

Valleyview business owner desperate for help to curb crime near her restaurant

Sep 11, 2019 | 10:30 AM

KAMLOOPS — The owner of a Valleyview restaurant is fed up with the crime happening around her property.

Lisa Turpin is the owner of Harold’s Family Restaurant. She says her business has been the target of break-ins and vandalism and she is worried about the safety of her family and staff.

She feels her concerns have not been heard by the City of Kamloops or the RCMP.

“It’s such a problem, you have to do something,” she said.

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Turpin says the retro-style diner has recently become a target for break-ins.

Image Credit: CFJC Today / Jill Sperling

“A couple of break-ins, somebody trying to break into our freezer, people hanging out in the back doing drugs, they’re hanging out there, they’re sleeping in the stairwell,” Turpin said. “I’ve had my front door glass broken.”

Break-ins have resulted in damage to the cash register and alarm system.

Image Credit: CFJC Today / Jill Sperling

The police have been called numerous times over the ongoing issues, which Cpl. Jodi Shelkie says is the right thing to do.

“First of all, call us at any time, call the RCMP, we’d gladly go there,” Shelkie said. “If you see criminal activity or if you see suspicious people we’ll gladly go and investigate and do what we can at that time.”

Shelkie says the type of criminal activity being seen at Harold’s Family Restaurant is happening across the city.

She says businesses experiencing ongoing issues should consult with the Crime Prevention Unit.

“Some things that they might recommend is a different type of lighting, motion sensor lighting, perhaps bushes need to be cut down or trees, move benches so that it’s not a ready place for people to sit down,” Shelkie said. “There’s different things that can happen that makes it not as attractive for people to linger around or be there after hours.”

Turpin says she has security systems in place, but nothing has seemed to help.

Image Credit: CFJC Today / Jill Sperling

She believes more services are needed to help the people doing the crimes to turn their lives around.

“Give them some resources, somewhere to go,” Turpin said. “I don’t like to see people just wandering around. If they’re drug addicts, put them in a program, give them something, give them aids, help them out.”

Damage to the restaurant has cost Turpin more than $1,000 in repairs.

“It’s adding up,” she said, “and we’re an independent company, we don’t have lots of money backing us up.”