By Sheldon Spackman

Downtown business owner feels derelict properties breeding crime

Sep 7, 2018 | 1:10 PM

A downtown business owner is voicing concerns about crime and the effect it is having on her operation.

Susan Uiterwijk, owner of Dutchess Manor Retreat and Guesthouse, says crime around her 54 Street location has always been a concern but feels the problem is getting worse, especially with derelict properties nearby.

“Most of the time it’s things disappearing from the yard, you know like gas bottles, firewood, little things like plants, that was sort of the extent of it,” says Uiterwijk. “[It was] nothing to be too concerned about, but recently things have started to escalate.”

She says her business, which she has owned since 1993 and where she and her husband live, has had its sheds broken into, car windows smashed and now a recent house break-in.

“We know that it’s pertaining to whoever is keeping an eye on us. There’s three derelict houses next door to us,” she exclaims. “I don’t have proof but there is an awful lot of presence in the house next door and they basically have all day to watch and see what we’re doing.

don't be fooled

Fake gold jewelry scam going around Red Deer, RCMP warn

55m ago

effective immediately

Lacombe County latest to implement fire restrictions

1h ago

Individuals aged 55 and over

Central Alberta Older Adult Employment Strategy Assessment Project full report released

18h ago

“The last six months we’ve had more concerns about things, especially our cars being safe and our stuff in our sheds being safe.”

Uiterwijk says an August 18 break-in saw thieves damage their back patio doors and side door. Her computer, iPhone, husband’s truck keys were also stolen.

She says their sense of “home” was also stolen that day and that the situation is affecting her business, making her and her customers feel unsafe and vulnerable.

“We really don’t have any neighbours or people that watch for us other than the people on the other side of the street in the building for seniors,” she laments. “They do a little bit of looking out the window but not very much. We know that there’s been a bicycle chop-shop in one of the houses next door because the bicycle parts appear and disappear at regular intervals.”      

Red Deer RCMP Inspector Gerald Grobmeier says although he understands the perception of increased crime in the area following a break-in, their stats do show that crime in Red Deer, including downtown, is on the decline over the past eight or nine months.

“It’s still at a level we’re not happy with. But from our rates compared to the last two or three years, break and enters, theft from motor vehicles, mischief, property damage-type files have gone down significantly,” state Grobmeier.

“Regarding derelict properties, that’s not a policing matter, although we understand that derelict properties cause a lot of issues. We have worked with The City, worked with identifying some of the people that own some of these properties and try to encourage them to board up their properties properly.”

In addition to reporting all suspicious activity to police, Grobmeier suggests it’s also a good idea to see what measures you can take as an individual or business to help prevent crime.

“That’s through CPTD (Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design), usually some pretty small but easy solutions can be found which helps deter crime,” he explains. “It’s a free service that we provide [and that] the Central Alberta Crime Prevention Centre provides. We can do it for anybody. They can come and take photos, do a full assessment and make recommendations to the owner.”

Erin Stuart, Inspections and Licensing Manager with The City of Red Deer, says she can’t speak specifically to the derelict homes Uiterwijk refers to but notes they are aware of where derelict homes are in the community. She adds they try to address any issues they cause through protocols set out in the Community Standards Bylaw.

“Property owners or agents for a property can’t permit that property or the activities on it to be, or remain to be, a nuisance or a safety hazard,” Stuart points out. “A nuisance is quite broad and the bylaw does give some specifics in regards to what that looks like, but it’s defined as any use or activity which is offensive to any person or may have a detrimental impact upon a person or other property in the neighbourhood.”

Stuart says the bylaw requires derelict properties to be boarded up and also covers things such as graffiti, dilapidated vehicles, grass, weeds and other unsightly scenes throughout the city.

“Initially, we do try to work with the property owners to try to gain compliance or to see how we can ensure that it’s no longer a nuisance to the area,” adds Stuart. “At that point, if we’re unsuccessful with working with the property owner, we would proceed with the next steps of enforcement. What I will say with regards to enforcement, those enforcement processes do take time and often times it can be perceived as though nothing is being done but there’s a lot of regulations and legislation that are in place because we are dealing with people’s private property.”   

Stuart says several vacant properties have already been torn down on 48 Avenue in Red Deer to make way for an Assisted Living Facility.

Uiterwijk concludes a good first step would be to tear down the derelict houses which attract those criminal elements.

“The sooner the better,” states Uiterwijk. “The other reason for that is we’re hosting the 2019 Canada Winter Games and it’s not going to look very professional to have these houses here that are just sitting here being desecrated by people that don’t belong here.”

To report a derelict property, contact the City of Red Deer Inspections and Licensing department.