By Pete McIntyre

Crime taking toll on non-profit group

Jan 31, 2020 | 2:06 PM

A Vernon non-profit group is looking at more crime prevention measures due to ongoing problems including a break-in and theft this week.

Venture Training on Alexis Park Drive, which helps adults with developmental disabilities, had a door to its bike shop busted down Wednesday night.

A till with money in it was taken, later found by staff.

“I found the till from the bike shop, up on the other side of our property smashed. Obviously they knew where it was,” said executive director Ryan Cucheron.

Cucheron says their Cycle Cycle program is where their clients are taught to do simple bicycle repairs.

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“We take bikes that are donated, we fix them up and we sell them to help run the program, so $800 is a big loss for that program,” Cucheron told Vernon Matters.

He says they’ve had a “constant battle” with people trying to break into their facility to steal bikes or bike parts, and with people loitering on the site.

“We had a back lot where we used to keep the bikes but we’ve moved them all inside now because we just have too many break-ins.”

The executive director says this is the first time someone has actually broken into that building, which will set them back in terms of funding, along with paying for a new door and frame.

“A few years ago we were in the news when somebody broke into our main site and stole a bunch of prizes when our fundraiser was happening, but this is the first time in about three years someone broke into a building.”

Cucheron says they already have extra lighting and private security for the site, but will consider more measures.

“That’s going to be another cost on us. Get a new door that’s more sturdy I guess, and maybe try to get security patrols to come here more often. That’s all we can really do.”

Cucheron says they have also considered adding security cameras.

“But we’re a non-profit and our margins each year are up and down, so to spend thousands of dollars on a security system, it’s going to put us back a lot.”

The break-in was reported to police.

He says they don’t know for sure who is behind the crimes.

Venture Training has been offering programs since 1955, and currently provides services for more than 200 participants with developmental disabilities.

by Pete McIntyre

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