Police were observed at the scene Wednesday morning. (Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

Crime

Police investigate break-in at downtown business; owner calls for long term thinking

Jan 13, 2022 | 2:00 PM

Despite paying for the costs of a smashed window and some stolen merchandise out of pocket, the owner of Country Comfort Bedrooms and Fine Furniture says it could have been much worse.

Speaking with paNOW on Thursday, a little more than 24 hours after a break-in at the store, Laurie Nyirfa was still visibly frustrated.

“I have to pay for the security camera, I have to replace the windows, I don’t wanna put bars on my windows because it looks horrible. I’m a high end furniture store,” she said.

The break-in happened around 5 a.m. on Wednesday morning and was captured in its entirety on the store’s security camera. After smashing the glass on the door, the thieves first appeared to wait for the sound of an alarm, then proceeded to enter the store.

While the woman stands watch outside, the man goes inside and steals some sales books, and a cash box with about $5 in it. At some point the woman enters and takes an end table. The two suspects can then be seen walking in opposite directions. Nyirfa said based on what she saw, it was quite obvious the man and woman were trained thieves.

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“If she’s stealing an end table she’s not a street person,” she said.

Nyirfa was told the woman seen in the video, was later seen getting into a car at the nearby A & W with the end table. Police have confirmed they are investigating, but for now Nyirfa said it’s her that pays.

A screen shot of the two suspects. (Facebook)

At the end of October, a meeting was organized by some downtown owners, focusing specifically on how to address the crime in the downtown and the issues related to poverty. Nyirfa said the meeting was a good idea, but added she would have preferred only the business owners be invited and not the elected officials or representatives from the various service groups.

“Of course anytime something comes up its always we need more funding, but that’s not solving the problem. Most of the money goes goes to administration fees before it actually hits the people that really need the money,” she said.

Noting a recent event in the downtown, where a man was observed walking down the street with a sword (passing Nyirfa’s store), which he later used to slash some tires in the midtown area, Nyirfa said the people causing the problems are not the ones sleeping in the doorways.

“They’re not people on drugs, they’re not people that are drinking, they are just gang members that are bored and are just looking for kicks,” she said.

A screen shot of the female suspect as she waits outside. (Facebook)

Explaining how she sees great potential for the city’s downtown, Nyirfa, who’s been at her location for eight years, said until the past few months she’s never had any issues.

And with respect to possible solutions, Nyirfa said she would like to see the downtown businesses receive more support from city hall, further noting her own fears to park in the back, and having to clean up the daily messes left behind in the form of needles, garbage and human excrement.

“My taxes went up $4,000 last year like for what? I didn’t do any renovations, I didn’t do anything on my building or my property,” she said.

Nyirfa added the image of the downtown and the recent issues, perhaps could be better resolved if more events were happening at the riverbank, and incentives offered to new businesses to set up shop there.

“Think long term …. not short term fixes,” she said.

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nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell