Business owners in Kansas City are voicing their concerns over a recent surge in break-ins, urging city officials to take decisive action. The issue has become particularly acute in areas like the River Market, where some establishments have fallen victim to multiple incidents within a short span of time.
Julian Garcia, who co-owns Bay Boy Specialty Sandwiches, expressed his frustration with the situation. “We operated without any issues for our first five years,” Garcia stated. However, his business has been targeted twice in the past year alone. While the most recent attempt was unsuccessful, the previous break-in resulted in losses for the sandwich shop.
The problem isn’t isolated to a single establishment. Betty Rae’s Ice Cream, another River Market business, has experienced two break-ins in just the last month. The shop’s owner, Matt Shatto, is calling for more proactive measures from city leadership. “We don’t need reimbursement for repairs,” Shatto emphasized. “What we need is prevention – police presence during the early morning hours to deter these crimes from happening in the first place.”
Shatto’s comments reference the recently approved Back to Business Fund, a city initiative designed to assist businesses affected by vandalism and burglary. The program, set to launch on July 1, 2024, offers reimbursements of up to $3,000 for repair costs and an additional $5,000 for security upgrades. However, some business owners view this as an insufficient response to the underlying issue.
“The criminals are aware of the lack of police presence in our area after hours,” Shatto noted. “They see us as easy targets.”
In response to these concerns, the Kansas City Police Department has outlined several strategies to address the rise in criminal activity. Sgt. Phil DiMartino, a department spokesperson, revealed plans to reintroduce foot patrols in the downtown area. “We’re in the process of determining the operational parameters for these officers,” DiMartino explained. “This may include adjusting their schedules to better align with when these incidents are occurring.”
The police are also considering increasing patrols in high-risk areas. “We analyze call patterns to identify areas that require more attention,” DiMartino stated. “The River Market is definitely on our radar.”
Despite these efforts, many business owners remain skeptical about the effectiveness of the city’s response. They argue that while financial assistance for repairs is appreciated, it fails to address the root cause of the problem. The sentiment among affected businesses is that more immediate and visible action is needed to restore a sense of security to the area.
As the Back to Business Fund prepares to accept applications, the debate over how best to combat the rise in break-ins continues. Business owners are hoping for a more comprehensive approach that combines increased law enforcement presence with long-term strategies to deter criminal activity.
The situation highlights the ongoing challenges faced by urban businesses and the complex task of balancing reactive measures with proactive crime prevention strategies. As Kansas City grapples with this issue, the experiences of business owners like Garcia and Shatto serve as a stark reminder of the real-world impact of these crimes on local communities and the urgent need for effective solutions.