Chesley Business Owners Upset, Concerned Over Crime

Business owners in Chesley, Ontario say they are frustrated and upset that their businesses have now been added to the growing list of crime scenes in a spree that has lasted since the first of the year.

The OPP reports that on the evening of January 14th, an unknown assailant attempted to break into a 1^st avenue business in Chesley, but was unable to gain entry.

"People are starting to talk." says Paul Hill, owner of the Pizza Pantry Plus restaurant and recent victim of the unknown criminals. "I'd like to see this stop. It's ruining the reputation of the town."

Police have reported that in the same time frame, the evening of January 14^th and the morning of the 15^th, that several 1^st avenue businesses in Chesley were hit. A real Estate office was broken into by prying open a window and a restaurant nearby was also broken into by prying a door open and an undisclosed amount of cash was stolen. Unknown assailants also attempted to break into the Chesley Arena, but were scared away when the security system went off.

"People are afraid to walk down the street." said another business owner who wished to remain anonymous. "I don't know if the OPP have given up or what."

The anonymous owner is also one the recent victims of the crime spree, and suggested that the police know who is behind it and aren't doing enough to stop it.

These incidents are just the latest in a string of over 15 cases of vandalism, break and enter and vehicle theft reported in the Bruce County region in the last 16 days. At least 9 of these cases have occurred in Chesley, and one a short distance away in Tara.

The OPP have not officially stated that they believe some or all of the cases to be related.

"I love this area, but why would I stay somewhere that has the same crime rate as Jane and Finch?" says Hill, refrenching an infamous district in Toronto. "I'd like to see the return of groups like the neighborhood watch in order to help deter this kind of thing."

The libraries in both Chesley and Tara were broken into and robbed on the evening of January 9^th.

"It bothers me immensely" said Ellen Kerr, supervisor of both branches. "...we will be a lot more vigilante in the future."

Police are cautioning all residents in the area to keep your vehicles locked, keep all doors and windows shut securely and keep an eye out for any strange behaviour or suspicious persons loitering around businesses and vehicles that could be potential targets.

Anyone with information on the recent string of crimes in Chesley and surrounding area are asked to contact South Bruce OPP at 1-888-310-1122.