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Vernon  

Might be time to get out

Since the Okanagan Skate Co. opened its doors in 2014, owner Steven Wach has endured four break-ins and a suspicious fire.

And now Wach is wondering if he will keep his business in the downtown core.

Wach has been at three different locations on 30th Avenue since he opened, but each break-in costs money to replace windows and stolen items.

The fourth break-in occurred overnight Friday when someone smashed the front door and made off with items from a display.

Wach has a security barrier which kept the suspect out of the main part of the business.

Wach first opened his business across the street from the old Liquidation World building on 30th Avenue, where he was broken into three times.

He wondered if the vacant building played a role in the break-ins as there were fewer people in the area.

He then moved to the east end of 30th Avenue where he experienced the unsolved fire and the most recent break-in.

“I think at this point it is time to start looking at some other areas outside of downtown due to some of the crime problems,” said Wach. “I hear a lot of talk about changes that are going to happen, but as a business owner I haven't seen any of these changes happen over the last four years.”

Wach knows the challenges facing the downtown core are complicated with no easy solution, “but unfortunately it is the downtown business owners that are having the financial difficulties as a result of these social issues. 

“We've already seen a couple of businesses move out of the downtown core, and I wonder if it's time for myself to follow suit.”



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