According to police, three establishments in downtown St. John were the victims of a string of robberies last weekend — and the owners say the area’s sense of safety is quickly deteriorating.
The spate of crimes is the latest blow to an area that local business owners and contractors say has become more dangerous in recent months.
One of the robberies, at the George Street music venue The Rock House, was caught on tape.
“The bartender was working, he was getting ready to close his cash. Two young guys … came in, both with knives, and took the money from the cash, took the young man’s wallet and tore everything apart, the electronics came out and they were gone in 37 seconds,” says Colin Dalton , who owns The Rock House and several other downtown establishments.
The thieves made off with about $600 — not much loot, since most customers use electronic payments, Dalton said.
He suspects poverty may have been a motivating factor.
“Some of these people just want to be put in jail for three months, get off the street because it’s cold,” Dalton said. “They don’t get any real money.”
Colin Dalton, who became part owner of The Duke of Duckworth in 1990, has worked at the pub since it opened in 1987. (Daryl Murphy/CBC)
Dalton says he’s seeing more people with mental illness and addictions congregate on downtown streets, able to hide in alleyways and behind buildings. The George Street scene, he says, has become a mere shelter for some.
His observations come amid warnings from a shelter operator in St. John’s this week, who told CBC News the organization has turned away hundreds of women in recent months, and soaring demand at The Gathering Place, which offers shelter beds and hot meals of people experiencing homelessness.
Dalton says the police presence in the area is doing nothing to prevent the apparent rise in crime, and suggests that increasing mental health services could be a good first step.
“They need help. That’s the first thing,” he said.
Bartender, patron hit with pepper spray: owner
Within a day of the George Street robbery, another bar a street away also described a brazen attack on its staff.
Mike Angelo, who owns Lucy’s on Duckworth Street, said a man walked into the bar and doused a customer and the bartender with bear spray while brandishing a knife.
He then smashed the cash register, throwing it to the floor, and fled with the money, Angelo said.
“It’s pretty bad. I could still feel it yesterday after my young friend cleaned the place,” he said.
“It was a mess. Scary for [bartender].”
The Royal Newfoundland Police confirmed they are still investigating the two bar robberies, but have a possible suspect in a third robbery that allegedly took place Sunday night at a fast food restaurant on Water Street.
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