Curtly Greenidge is sick and tired of thieves breaking into his car wash business in the Barbados Association of Retailers, Vendors and Entrepreneurs (BARVEN) market, located along the Mighty Grynner Highway, St Michael.
“I am part-owner of the Barven Car Wash Centre along with my wife.
There are a number of shops that have been getting broken into on numerous occasions. I already had four, the last one was Thursday morning, when people cut open two concrete boards with some device, God knows what, and came in and stole a tablet.
Tablet stolen
“That’s all they stole, just a tablet.
They were hoping they would find money, but we don’t leave the money in the shop because of the previous break-ins,” he told the DAILY NATION.
Greenidge said he was frustrated with the repeated break-ins and the response from the law. He complained that the police were just giving excuses why they could not investigate.
“They treat us like we’re disturbing them from their duties. I guess we ain’t break-in enough and nobody ain’t hold anybody at gunpoint or nobody get shoot down here or whatever, but I’m tired of the mediocre treatment from the police.”
The upset business owner said it was getting to the point where he was considering lying in wait for any would-be perpetrator, but then it would be him the police would be coming for.
Another business owner, who also suffered break-ins, said he had addressed the problem.
“You got to secure yourself. I had a few break-ins months after I started but I put in burglar bars and cameras, plus I have private security to watch the place at night so since then I haven’t had any trouble. As a business owner you have to do things to keep your business safe,” he said, requesting that he be not identified.
BARVEN president Alister Alexander was not present at the time and subsequent efforts to reach him were unsuccessful. Attempts were also made to reach police communications and public affairs officer, Acting Inspector Ryan Brathwaite, but those too were unsuccessful.
(CA)
