Wednesday night proved anything but peaceful in the city’s downtown and industrial areas. Three restaurants were broken into, and two vehicles were stolen from Capital Towing’s Ltd.’s compound in Marwell.
City of Whitehorse property was also unlawfully entered.
According to the Whitehorse RCMP, the restaurants involved in the break-ins included Kita Japanese Kitchen + Bar and Pickapeppa, both located on Second Avenue, and Farm and Social on Ogilvie Street.
“We received a call in the morning. The landlord informed me that our door had been broken last night,” Romi Yu, owner of Kita Japanese Kitchen + Bar, told The Yukon Star on Thursday.
The store only keeps a total of $100 in cash, including some coins, every day. The thief or thieves only took the paper bills, amounting to about $95.
Although that might not sound like a lot, for Yu, the aftermath of cleaning up the broken glass from the damaged door to keep customers safe, and his discouragement, are what hurt the most.
He also mentioned that his restaurant is in partnership with Night Market. The restaurant right next to his experienced a break-in two days earlier.
As of now, the restaurant remains open to the public, as Yu cannot afford to shutter it.
“Once you close the door, you’re just going to lose more,” he said.
Farm and Social was broken into on the same day – which happened to be their grand opening.
“It’s sad,” one of the restaurant owners said in an interview Thursday. “There are things that need to change, like the systematic inequalities in downtown. It’s overwhelming for small businesses.”
Similar to Yu’s restaurant, only a couple of cans of soda were stolen from Farm and Social, as no actual cash had been left at the restaurant on its first day in business.
In the meantime, the owner wanted to extend his gratitude to the public for their support on the restaurant’s maiden day.
The two pickup trucks were stolen from Capital Towing’s compound at approximately 4 a.m. Both are described as white Ford F150s, one with a black canopy on it. The City of Whitehorse’s compound on nearby Tlingit Street was also accessed.
“If you see vehicles matching these descriptions, do not approach them,” the RCMP said.
“Contact the police. It is not known at this time if these incidents are connected, but that is certainly something that will be considered as part of the investigation.”
The work is being led by Whitehorse detachment officers, the Whitehorse General Investigative Section and the Yukon RCMP Forensic Identification Section.
Wednesday’s crime spree comes on the heels of last Saturday’s break-in to Fruit Stand on Black Street. The business lost $7,000 worth of seafood and steaks.
