Break-ins force Timmins business to reassess its inventory
The owner of O'Reilly Source for Sports in Timmins said his place of business has been the target of break-ins over the past seven years he's been an owner, forcing him to make a change to reduce the potential for any more financial loss.
Reilly Heffernan said he does not blame mayor or police for the level of crime he's had to deal with as business owner, but he's frustrated with the leniency of the justice system and he wants to share his experience with the public with hope that the government will hear him and other business owners like him.
"I guess my heart’s hardened over it; I just see it as a cost of doing business now which is ridiculous; it shouldn’t be just accepting you have this happen to you," said Heffernan.
- Download our app to get local alerts on your device
- Get the latest local updates right to your inbox
Heffernan said he's honestly lost count, but he said his store has been targeted by thieves at least nine or ten times. He said with the bars he installed on the front windows, perpetrators have come through the floor and the wall.
Heffernan would like to see the justice system change and that repeat offenders "should be jailed." he said.
"It's that simple; I think that's just common sense.”
"Instead of looking at the common case law, look at common sense and start protecting the community – that's the government's job: to protect the nation."
According to various news releases from the Timmins Police Service issued since Feb. 12 there have been approximately six arrests made for thefts at businesses; one arrest of a panhandler for assaulting someone who didn't want to offer any money; one arrest of a man assaulting someone while trying to get away without paying at pharmacy; and there is still an unsolved theft of equipment from the Schumacher Fire Hall.
“These are not sophisticated types of crimes, they’re more of a random break-in sort of thing; they leave evidence behind," said the communications co-ordinator for Timmins police, Marc Depatie.
Among the six arrests made for thefts at businesses includes the arrests of two men for the series of break-ins at McDonald's Pharmacy in South Porcupine between January and February.
"There’s also excellent use of closed circuit television which is a godsend for policing,” said Depatie.
"It really does help us determine a timeline, a description, a method of operation of theses criminals so it’s highly useful to the police.”
Heffernan said police do an excellent job, "they're doing everything within their resources to handle these situations." But he said in the meantime, he's felt he's had to come up with his own plan to deter thieves and he's made the decision to stop selling clothing.
"It seems as though apparel is a big attraction for shoplifting so we’re just going to stop selling it so where we’ve offered premium brands in the past we’re just getting out of it,” said Heffernan.
“We’re just going to focus on hard goods that are large in size, that are hard to stuff up jackets, so we’re going to lose a whole category of items that we’re going to offer to the community.”
He also told CTV News that due to a couple of expensive insurance claims he's had to make, that's resulted in his premiums going up by 50% over the last three years; he's now paying more than $900 a month for the business’ insurance.
Heffernan ended his interview with CTV News with a message to the people who break-in and steal from business owners:
"There’s jobs out there, there’s help out there, there’s churches out there that are willing to feed you. There’s community based organizations that want to help.
You have to want the help; you have to realize that you’re living on the street as a result of not being a victim but as a result of the series of decisions you’ve made in your life and no body’s to blame for that except yourself so until you’ve come to that realization, life’s not going to get better for you.
You gotta realize that you’re the problem, you’re the common denominator in your life being the way it is and once you’ve come to that conclusion, then you can seek to higher power to help you.
I think that’s what they need. I think they need to have a sense of knowing that people want to help, but also they need to have that sense of needing to want to be helped.” – Reilly Heffernan
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Israel attacks Iran, Reuters sources say; drones reported over Isfahan
Iran fired air defence batteries early Friday morning as explosions could be heard near a major air base near Isfahan, raising fears of a possible Israeli strike following Tehran's unprecedented drone-and-missile assault on the country.
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.
Nearly half of China's major cities are sinking, researchers say
Nearly half of China's major cities are suffering 'moderate to severe' levels of subsidence, putting millions at risk of flooding especially as sea levels rise.
Prince Harry formally confirms he is now a U.S. resident
Prince Harry, the son of King Charles III and fifth in line to the British throne, has formally confirmed he is now a U.S. resident.
Judge says 'no evidence fully supports' murder case against Umar Zameer as jury starts deliberations
The judge presiding over the trial of a man accused of fatally running over a Toronto police officer is telling jurors the possible verdicts they may reach based on the evidence in the case.
Health Canada to change sperm donor screening rules for men who have sex with men
Health Canada will change its longstanding policy restricting gay and bisexual men from donating to sperm banks in Canada, CTV News has learned. The federal health agency has adopted a revised directive removing the ban on gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men, effective May 8.
Colin Jost names one celebrity who is great at hosting 'Saturday Night Live'
Colin Jost, who co-anchors Saturday Night Live's 'Weekend Update,' revealed who he thinks is one of the best hosts on the show.
Sports columnist apologizes for 'oafish' comments directed at Caitlin Clark. The controversy isn't over
A male columnist has apologized for a cringeworthy moment during former University of Iowa superstar and college basketball's highest scorer Caitlin Clark's first news conference as an Indiana Fever player.
'Shopaholic' author Sophie Kinsella reveals brain cancer diagnosis
Sophie Kinsella, the best-selling author behind the 'Shopaholic' book series, has revealed that she is receiving treatment for brain cancer.