Edmonton’s Chinatown community fed up with crime, vandalism: ‘Nobody feels safe’
Global News
A recent rash of crime and vandalism in Edmonton's Chinatown area has some business owners fed up and wanting to leave the area permanently.
Businesses in Edmonton’s Chinatown said a recent increase in crime could be the end for them. The local business association said its calls for more security and cleaner streets are not being answered.
“It’s too much, nobody can take it anymore. It’s a tipping point,” Chinatown and Area Business Association executive director Wen Wong said.
Surveillance video captured outside of Edmonton’s Pacific Mall in Chinatown last week shows an individual smashing several store-front glass windows with a hammer.
“Nobody feels safe, our customers are leaving our community, our members are leaving our community,” Wong said.
And the destruction didn’t stop there.
“On 106th there was another two members, their windows were smashed,” Wong said.
Wong said those business are now out nearly $20,000 dollars to get those replaced.
Hong Kong Bakery owner Chip Tang is all too familiar with the problem.