Is the VPD leaving shut-down businesses wide open to break-ins during COVID-19?

A Vancouver business manager is blowing the whistle on the Vancouver Police Department for what they see as a move that will result in their building - and others - being left vulnerable to criminals during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Speaking on the condition of anonymity due to their property potentially being exposed to break-ins if we identified them, the manager tells V.I.A. that they currently “feel very concerned for the security of our building and the contents within it.”

Their concern is due to the VPD revoking their license to have an alarm permit last week, which means that police will no longer respond to calls to their building, should their alarm go off.

According to VPD records their building had one false alarm in 2018, one in 2019, and two in February of this year.

In a letter signed by chief of police Adam Palmer on March 27th, the VPD let the business know their permit had been suspended and that they should not expect a police response should their alarm go off in the future.

The notice came at a time when the city is seeing a dramatic uptick in break-ins to businesses.

In a March 26th press release, just one day before the letter was issued to the business manager, the VPD noted that criminals are taking advantage of the current situation.

Chief Palmer said that the VPD is “taking significant measures to combat property crime while local and provincial measures are in place to address the spread of COVID-19.”

He went on to note that “Property crime is an issue in Vancouver year-round and we continuously implement new measures to help reduce property crime and target repeat offenders,” but that “it appears thieves are attempting to take advantage of commercial spaces that are closed due to social distancing measures. We are targeting these offenders aggressively on several levels.”

The business manager who contacted us is urging the VPD to resume service to everyone, and that “Any alarm cancellations should be paused immediately.“

Should they? Take our online poll and have your say in our poll HERE.

Permit cancellation notice from the Vancouver Police Department, signed by chief Adam Palmer