A business owner along West Victoria Street is hoping that massive amounts of property crime are starting to be addressed.

Reid Hamer-Jackson owns TRU Market, and says crime on his property is mainly caused by addiction and mental illness.

“There’s been fires, vandalism… I’ve had to turn my power off, because they gather and party while they juice up their phones,” he says, saying he has showed up to work to find defecation and has had property stolen as well. “I know it’s a problem all over the place. It’s not just here, it’s all over.”

He was asked if the rate of crime has been compounded by construction on West Victoria Street in the past year, which is now wrapping up.

“The construction wasn’t bad. They got it done good, and I felt they did a really good job. The street traffic is bad, I mean there’s buggies, all kind of stuff. And like I said, after the Rosethorn building was opened, in the first week of February my security cameras just lit up like a Christmas tree. And they haven’t stopped.”

Hamer-Jackson says he spoke last week with Kamloops city officials and housing providers in the area.

He says BC Housing hired security last month, and says that’s a start to making sure people committing crimes are accountable.

“You hear a lot about what’s going on, but on the ground, a lot of things don’t happen. At least they’re listening, I’m hoping that it’s going to get better.”