Kalamata Grocery in Calgary’s Beltline neighbourhood has been a staple alongside 11 St. S.W. for greater than 60 years. Just lately the colourful navy blue constructing has seemed as if it is perhaps condemned, after thieves broke into the enterprise twice throughout the span of per week.
The home windows of Kalamata Grocery in Calgary’s Beltline group are boarded up after two break-ins on the enterprise.
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“They broke in, got in as fast as they could and tried to get whatever they could – money – they took my till,” Kokos defined. “And within 45-50 seconds? Back out.”
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Kokos estimates the stolen money and merchandise, smashed home windows and new safety measures will price him round $20,000.
“I’ve spent $200 (just) for the wood to cover my windows while I wait for the glass and for the shutters,” Kokos shared.
Kokos stated he believes the uptick in incidents is expounded to a rise within the variety of individuals experiencing homelessness and habit.
“Over the years it’s gotten worse and worse,” remarked Kokos. “Now with the drugs, the crack, the meth, everything. What you find is that it’s at this par – this park behind my business, there’s lots.”
Based on statistics from the Calgary Police Companies group security dashboard, over the previous five-years the variety of business break-ins and robberies peaked in 2022 however has has steadily declined since. Nonetheless, the numbers present a rise of about 4 per cent between January and October of this 12 months in comparison with the identical interval in 2024.
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Based on the Calgary police Group Security Dashboard, business break-ins have been trending downwards since 2022.
“It’s just a constant trend in the neighbourhood,” Kokos stated. “People don’t care because they don’t have … there is no consequences.”
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Individuals who frequent the grocery store have shared their assist for the neighbourhood staple, bringing in flowers and persevering with to buy there regardless of the boarded home windows.
“All the different people saying ‘Oh I’m so sorry! What can I do?’ – it’s beautiful,” Kokos beamed. “It just shows that there’s so many people that actually care.”
