As theft at convenience stores and residential properties continues to concern Manitobans, the owner of a construction company in Winnipeg says everything from tools to materials and company vehicles have been stolen from his job sites.
“Theft in general has become an epidemic in Winnipeg, we’re just another side of the story,” said Greg Simmons, who owns Simmons Masonry.
He said cases of theft at the company, which does renovations and restorations, have increased over the past two years and have gotten worse since the spring.
“We had a $15,000 swing stage motor stolen about two months ago, just simply stolen for scrap. We’ve had people grab the tools and run down the alleys with them, with us right there.”
Another truck was stolen two weeks ago at a job site they were working at, but luckily, they were able to track the vehicle through an Apple AirTag and confront the individual who stole it.
Simmons said one of his employees would park their company truck in front of their home and repeatedly find the windows smashed with some of their personal belongings stolen from inside. One day the truck was stolen along with the company’s tools.
Simmons Masonry bought a new shop last summer and installed security cameras to protect their business, but Simmons said he still worries that someone will break in and steal the company’s trucks or equipment.
“Every business owner and contractor I’ve talked to is dealing with the same thing,” he said.
“The biggest part of it is the mental and psychological stress that it produces, so if you’re a company that’s wanting to grow, you think twice in this city because of the challenges that you’re going to have.”
Simmons said he’s contacted the police about the thefts, but he wants to find better solutions to these problems.
Security recommendations: police
Const. Pat Saydak told CBC in an email statement that the Winnipeg police are aware of the thefts at Simmons Masonry, but they can’t confirm how many contractors are impacted because it doesn’t break down theft for commercial businesses into specific categories.
The police recommend contractors install video cameras, adequate lighting, reduce the amount of property that is open and visible and make sure all materials are locked away.
Businesses can register and record serial numbers of vehicles, trailers and power tools, which can help investigators identify stolen items and help return materials to their rightful owners.
The Winnipeg Construction Association, which has more than 750 members across the province in institutional, industrial and commercial construction, said they are increasingly hearing about thefts and damage to equipment at work sites and places of business.
“Nobody likes to show up to their work site and find that their truck windows have been smashed out and have to deal with all the drama associated with having to fix that problem,” said Darryl Harrison, the association’s director of stakeholder engagement.
Thefts have a ripple effect on the company and customer because it impacts the contractor’s ability to deliver the project on time and the cost to replace tools, equipment and damage to vehicles, Harrison said.
He thinks there needs to be a greater deterrent for thieves engaging in criminal behaviour.
As theft at convenience stores and residential properties continues to concern Manitobans, the owner of a construction company in Winnipeg says everything from tools to materials and company vehicles have been stolen from his job sites.