‘I want to get out’: Business owner fed up after break-ins

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This article was published 23/08/2022 (1157 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

After three costly break-ins in a week, a fed-up Winnipeg hotel and restaurant owner already hit by the COVID-19 downturn and inflation is prepared to sell the business.

The first two incidents at Four Crowns Inn Restaurant and Bar on McPhillips Street, just north of Mountain Avenue, happened three hours apart — at 5 a.m. and 8 a.m. — on Aug. 15.

The latest occurred around 4 a.m. Sunday.

“I feel like this is the third strike for me,” said owner Ravi Ramberran, citing the pandemic and rising prices as the first two. “I want to get out. If someone came in here with a half-decent offer, I would very much consider it.”

The trio of break-ins inflicted a loss of about $5,000, which includes the cost of replacing broken windows and beer that was stolen.

As for insurance, each break-in is treated individually, and most policies have a deductible of $5,000 per claim, he said.

“Hospitality insurance costs have almost doubled since COVID,” said Ramberran. “It’s a tough ride right now.”

It would cost about $25,000 to replace about a dozen glass windows with stronger and more resistant Plexiglass versions, he said.

Ramberran said he has put his “heart and soul” into the Four Crowns Inn, which includes the restaurant, bar and banquet rooms, for seven years, while trying to turn it into a positive fixture in the neighbourhood.

That’s what makes the rash of break and enters so upsetting.

He believes the same group of teenagers is responsible for all three incidents, which were recorded by surveillance cameras.

In the first break-in, a group smashed a window but didn’t steal anything. Hours later, teens were chased away by staff after kicking in boards covering the window.

“It’s like they literally waited for the windows to be boarded up and the police to leave,” said Ramberran.

Thieves smashed a window and stole beer in the most recent incident.

“Now, they can’t rob the liquor stores, so they’re going after us,” said Ramberran, referring to controlled entrances which were installed at Liquor Marts in response to a series of thefts.

He said the police officers who responded to the break-ins were “fantastic” because they cared and shared his frustration.

Police are investigating the incidents, a police spokeswoman said.

About a month ago, a group of teens pepper-sprayed Ramberran’s staff.

“The crime is just out of hand,” he said.

Ramberran’s staff called 911 when Pup Paradise, which provides dog grooming and day care services, was broken into over the weekend. It is located across the street from Four Crowns.

Cash and a television were stolen after a glass door was smashed, said manager Cara-Mia Hodgins.

“It’s pretty disgusting. It’s a good thing there wasn’t any boarding dogs,” she said. “We’re going to step up our security system for the safety of the dogs, the people who work here and the customers who bring their dogs.”

Ramberran spoke to city Coun. Ross Eadie (Mynarski) on Tuesday about his desire to start a business improvement zone or association for the area.

The goal would be for business owners to share information while promoting and protecting each other.

Ramberran would like to get the city and police on board.

Eadie said he intends to support Ramberran’s efforts by contacting other businesses on McPhillips and in the surrounding area about the possibility of forming an association.

The councillor also plans to invite representatives of the city’s police service and police board to attend a meeting to discuss concerns and ideas.

Winnipeg police received 5,322 reports of break and enters in 2021, an increase of 1.3 per cent compared with 2020, according to the latest annual report.

The 2021 total is almost five per cent lower than the five-year average.

Police had a clearance rate of 13.3 per cent in 2021, a decrease of 1.1 per cent from the previous year.

Almost two-thirds of the break-ins were classified as non-residential.

chris.kitching@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @chriskitching