Pair of Edmonton businesses frustrated by break-ins

Two small business owners are speaking out about the devastating impacts of break-ins and thefts. One, in west Edmonton, experienced two in just 10 days.

“Shock, mad. I was mad,” said Dez Melenka, a co-founder of The Creative Hive.

Melenka arrived at work Tuesday to find her business had been broken into again, impacting 15 businesses in The Creative Hive building.

“They were worried, they were scared so we got here as fast as we could,” Melenka explained.

Edmonton police responded to reports of break-ins on both Mar. 8 and 18.

For Melenka, it’s more than the cash that was taken, but the headache of dealing with insurance and police twice in one month, and repairing a broken lock.

“They hurt every single one of them, the business community in Edmonton is reeling from so many break-ins in senseless acts of vandalism that are hard to come back from,” said Melenka.

It’s a similar heartbreak across town at Magpie Books in the Ritchie neighbourhood.

Finding broken glass, and books scattered across the floor on Mar. 2, but nothing stolen, in an apparent act of vandalism.

“That’s all new. We have to replace everything there,” explained Julie King-Yerex, a co-owner of Magpie Books.

“It’s heartbreaking to see your heart and soul a little bit smushed and all batched up.”

The window was replaced by the landlord Thursday, but the owner is now working to replace the equipment that was damaged, deciding to pay out of pocket, rather than insurance out of fear of rising premiums.

“We have a pretty high deductible and I think our premium would go up so much that it just wouldn’t make it worth it … we might as well just eat the cost and keep our premiums what they are,” said King-Yerex.

Both The Creative Hive and Magpie Books are reviewing their security measures, and are hoping those responsible remember the impact on businesses is often greater than the items taken.