Security costs for business ‘insane’

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This article was published 09/08/2023 (759 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Smashed windows, theft and property damage have become an infuriating reality for some restaurant owners, who’ve begun referring to Winnipeg as “Gotham City.”

“It’s expensive to do business in Winnipeg. Period. The security costs of doing business here are insane,” said Ravi Ramberran, owner of Four Crowns Restaurant and Hotel on McPhillips Street.

Ramberran is a member of the Manitoba Restaurant and Foodservice Association, which met with Justice Minister Kelvin Goertzen Tuesday to discuss property crimes.

“We make jokes that… we’re all going to get together and invest in a Batman skylight because we are turning into Gotham City very quickly,” he said.

Gotham is a fictional city in the Batman comic book series, typified by rampant crime, violence and destruction.

On Tuesday, Four Crowns was hit by vandals, in what Ramberran believes was a targeted attack.

He said a security officer was working outside his hotel and vendor around 1:30 a.m. Tuesday, when they witnessed a cab driver exit his vehicle with an open can of beer in his hand. The security officer demanded the driver dispose of his beer, and criticized him for allegedly drinking while behind the wheel of a company vehicle. The officer then phoned the company to report the driver’s behaviour.

Around 3:30 a.m., a different vehicle drove onto the property and four people began smashing glass windows and doors. Ramberran has security footage from incident which allegedly identifies the suspect as the same person previously seen driving the cab, he said.

The Winnipeg Police Service could not comment on the allegations Wednesday.

“A report has been made and police are still investigating. Further evidence and interviews will need to be completed before any inferences or identifications are made. No charges laid at this time,” Const. Dani McKinnon said in an email.

Ramberran declined to provide the name of the cab company, saying the business is co-operating with police.

He has provided the security footage to investigators, he said.

Ramberran owns two other businesses — St. James Burger and Chip Co. at 1866 Ness Ave. and Dreamland Diner at 2615 Portage Ave. — and has spent roughly $85,000 this year on enhanced security at all three locations.

“It’s a lot of money. Unfortunately, insurance doesn’t cover these kinds of things anymore without extremely high deductibles,” he said, adding his current deductible is around $25,000.

He estimates the damage from the latest incident will total around $20,000.

“I don’t want to blame insurance either because if I was in that business, I wouldn’t want to insure that kind of property damage either. It’s just too expensive.”

Ramberran joined calls from the restaurant association calling for immediate intervention from justice officials.

“I’m getting really tired of politicians just talking about it. We need some action… If you hurt someone, take their stuff or damage their property, you need to go down extremely hard so you don’t do it again,” he said.

tyler.searle@freepress.mb.ca