Chilliwack residents concerned over crime in downtown core
Businesses in downtown Chilliwack say drug use, prostitution and violence are keeping crowds away
Crime and prostitution are nothing new in downtown Chilliwack but a recent spike in violence has spooked even long-time residents.
The situation reached a boiling point earlier this week when a man was stabbed to death in a grocery store parking lot.
Hundreds of people have joined Facebook groups calling for solutions, such as Change for Chilliwack and the newly created Chilliwack Defenders.
Police say they are using crime analysis techniques to get a handle on the problem.
"We work in Chilliwack on an intelligence-led policing model, which means we target enforcement areas to where crime has spiked," says Supt. Deanne Burleigh, the officer in charge of the RCMP's Upper Fraser Valley regional detachment.
"We are seeing results, but unfortunately crime is rising and we are seeing spikes at the moment, so we continue to target areas on a weekly and biweekly basis where we see it go up."
Community on edge
Nel Devisser, who is a manager of Bibles for Missions thrift store in downtown Chilliwack, says it had to close its public washroom because drug users were shooting up inside.
Volunteers have been instructed not to chase after shoplifters, because it's a safety risk.
"I wasn't scared before but lately, with all the violence going around, I'm getting a little bit more scared now," Devisser says.
"It's too bad because people just don't want to come downtown because of all of the scary things going on," she said.
Seedy or gritty?
Devisser says the area has always had the potential to grow into a vibrant city centre but it has always been held back by crime.
Just down the street at Redneck Bill's Mall, a dollar store where you can buy everything from fishing gear to baby clothes, owner Bill Glew says the neighbourhood isn't as bad as it's made out to be.
"There are a few druggies down here and a few people trying to get clean, but it's a good neighbourhood, though," he said.
"There are a lot friendly people who try to help each other out. It's really a cool place around here. There's a fair bit of crime out here, but you get that in Surrey and Vancouver, too."