Sydney restaurant struck by vandals for 4th time in just over a year
The owner of a restaurant in Cape Breton is angry after finding two of the establishment's front windows were smashed for the fourth time in 14 months.
The Maple Leaf Restaurant has been a fixture for decades on Charlotte Street in downtown Sydney.
"I took over from my father 16 months ago," said Anthony Fong. "It's really discouraging, as [when] you try to run a small business, every penny counts.
"I've pretty much worked the last year for free, trying to make this place survive and you're trying to make a living for your family."
Fong said his wife, Cherie, works at the restaurant in addition to her regular job to cut down on costs.
Window repairer helps out
The Fongs got a break after the latest bout of vandalism.
The company that had replaced the restaurant's smashed windows after the previous three incidents offered to do No. 4 for free.
"The window that might cost only $300 or $400 could make or break a small business," said Fong.
"I'm lucky the window company has stepped up and offered to replace it, so this time I get away a little bit lucky, but next time, probably not."
The executive director of the Sydney Waterfront District Association sympathizes with Fong.
"When I owned a business, it happened to me one time," said Michelle Wilson. "It still always hurts when it hits your front door."
She said the association has been working to increase the police presence on the street, noting that a constable has worked the beat on Monday to Friday for the past year.
"He has had a direct impact and has greatly reduced the amount of shoplifting and things like that," said Wilson.
Police believe incident is random
Cape Breton Regional Police Insp. Robert Walsh said the latest vandalism incident for the restaurant appears to be random.
He said there hasn't been a significant increase in reports of vandalism in the area, but said the force would be increasing patrol numbers in the daytime and evening.
Walsh had some advice for the public.
"Anytime that the public see an incident taking place, the best course of action is to call the police and make us aware, even if they suspect that there is a group gathering or that there may be issues," he said.
"By making us aware, we can increase our presence and we can respond effectively."
Closed-circuit video cameras?
Fong wants the Cape Breton Regional Municipality to install video surveillance cameras in the downtown core and have more police patrols out when the bars close.
A pilot project involving closed-circuit video cameras was proposed to the municipality's board of police commissioners nearly 10 years ago, but the idea never got off the ground.
Fong said he may have to make some very hard decisions if his business is struck again.
"I'm very discouraged. I probably have one foot out the door [at] this point," he said. "I'd make more money going somewhere else, not having the headaches and not worrying about coming to work and having to clean up glass.
"It may be just a window, but it could be somebody's livelihood. It could make or break a small business."
