B.C. cafe goes cashless after two break-ins in two months

A Nanaimo cafe has gone cashless after experiencing two break-ins within a two-month period. Can Akin, owner of Misty Pines Cafe and Bakery, which opened in 2023 as the second store in the city, told Global News that the business faced three break-ins over the past three years. Two of these incidents resulted in significant financial losses, with the first break-in costing almost $4,000 and the subsequent two break-ins costing around $3,000 each.

During the last break-in on October 10th, a thief managed to steal the cash safe despite it being heavy and requiring two people to carry it away. Despite being caught shortly after, the safe and its contents were never recovered. Police arrested a suspect following the second break-in, who was later released on an undertaking to appear in court on December 15th.

Customers and local officials have called for policy changes aimed at prosecuting repeat offenders and addressing street disorder in Nanaimo's downtown area. Mayor Leonard Krog expressed disappointment in the state of affairs and expressed hope for a tougher stance against repeat offenders from the new government. Kevan Shaw, whose family has owned commercial property in downtown Nanaimo for nearly 80 years, noted that petty crime, theft, and break-ins have plagued the area for the last two decades, describing the current situation as a reflection of the broader issues across Canada and British Columbia.

Nanaimo RCMP stated that investigations take time, involving the review of CCTV footage, gathering witness statements, cataloguing forensic evidence, and submitting a detailed report to Crown Counsel. They are pursuing charges of break-and-enter, theft, and possession of stolen property.