Nanaimo bar owner says she is fed up with city’s crime after daughter’s car targeted

Rudy Komen, owner of a Nanaimo bar, has voiced her frustration with the escalating crime in the British Columbia city, particularly after her daughter's car was targeted.

Komen's bar had recently hosted the province's public safety minister for an announcement regarding a $12 million program aimed at addressing chronic offenders. However, just days later, her daughter's car was broken into near the establishment, with hundreds of dollars worth of belongings stolen.

“

I've grown up learning that we always report any sort of vandalism, big or small.

Adding to Komen's distress, she was initially advised to leave the vehicle untouched for fingerprinting but was later informed that such break-ins were so frequent they would not be investigated. "I've grown up learning that we always report any sort of vandalism, big or small," Komen said, emphasizing her belief in maintaining awareness and safe streets.

Sonia Komen, the daughter, expressed feelings of being "used" and disheartened by the recurring incidents. She questioned the efficacy of the provincial government's public safety initiative, which officially launched in November after being announced in June. Public safety advocates, like Kevan Shaw of the Nanaimo Area Public Safety Association, are also raising concerns, asking if the program is a genuine effort or merely a public relations move. Komen is awaiting the replacement of her car window, but regaining faith in public safety, she noted, may take considerably longer.

“

I do feel a little bit used, right, and… It’s a little disheartening when this keeps happening.