Police presence ‘makes a huge difference’ for downtown businesses

Business owners in the downtown area are seeing fewer incidents of break-ins and disruptive activity in recent years — and many credit increased patrols and the expansion of the Brandon Police Service cadet program for the improvement.

Chez Angela Bakery and Café at 29-C 10th St. has experienced only one break-in during the eight years it has operated downtown, general manager James Chambers told the Sun on Monday.

“When you think about the thousands of shifts and hundreds of thousands of hours our staff have spent working here over that time, that really speaks to how safe we feel the downtown has been for us,” he said in an email.

“We have definitely noticed more visibility from the cadets, and we appreciate it. We’ve also seen constables and leadership from Brandon Police Service making a point of coming in and checking in with downtown businesses.”

When patrols are visible, it creates reassurance for business owners and staff, and it also signals that the downtown is being actively looked after, he said.

Police data show a decline in break-and-enter calls for service in recent years. In 2025, officers responded to 216 such calls, down from 312 in 2024 and 449 in 2021 — a roughly 50 per cent drop compared to four years earlier. As of Feb. 28, police had received 21 break-and-enter calls.

Chambers described the café’s recent incident as opportunistic rather than targeted.

A window had already been boarded after someone threw a loose no-parking sign through it, and the intruders were able to kick the plywood loose and unlock the door, he said.

“It was really a series of unfortunate events piling on top of each other,” he said.

Since then, he said, the café has upgraded its security system to include 24-hour camera monitoring and reviewed procedures around storing valuable items.

“We have a beautiful view both into and out of the café, and leaving the space visible means patrols and cadets walking by can clearly see inside,” he said.

For some businesses, the decline in property crime has been noticeable.

At Union Shoe Store, a long-running family business that dates back to 1929, owner Bob Pappas said incidents have decreased in recent years.

“We’ve seen a definite drop in crime,” Pappas said. “We’re thankful for the cadet program that the police have put in place. That’s been very helpful.”

The store at 618 Rosser Ave. previously dealt with a broken display window, but Pappas said there have been no similar incidents since.

Store manager Angela Pappas said police officers regularly check in with businesses and provide advice on safety measures, such as improving exterior lighting to discourage loitering.

“That presence makes a huge difference,” she said.

Longtime downtown business owner Karla Ortega of Karla’s International Foods said she has operated in the area for nearly 20 years and has never experienced a break-in.

However, she recalled previously seeing more loitering and public drinking near her shop at 908 Rosser Ave.

“For years, you would see people sitting outside in the morning drinking beer or hanging around the alley,” Ortega said. “Now you don’t see them anymore, not even in the winter.”

She said police patrols and cadet visits help reassure businesses.

“They come by and say hello, make sure everything is OK,” she said. “I think it’s huge because people are not so afraid.”

Ortega said events such as a downtown market last year also helped bring more families into the area and improve perceptions of safety.

At 707 Rosser Ave., Mama Bear’s Quilt Shoppe manager Kelsey Noordenbos told the Sun that serious incidents have been rare in recent years.

The business experienced a smashed window several years ago and occasional graffiti, but she said the police presence helps reassure both staff and customers.

“We see cadets all the time, and the police make their presence known downtown,” she said. “I don’t feel unsafe.”

She added that some customers, particularly elderly ones, still hesitate to visit downtown or come out of their vehicles if they see people loitering nearby.

“But we can reassure them that the police are around and it’s not as bad as what they think,” she said.

I Want That Stuff owner Corey Trumbley told the Sun the store has had only a minor issue since moving to 138 10th St. about a year and a half ago.

“There was a broken window, but that’s pretty minor, all things considered,” he said. “It’s been pretty quiet in regard to crime.”

Trumbley said the visible patrols act as a deterrent.

“It’s like having a sign up that says you have a security system,” he said. “If people know the police are present and attentive, you cut down a lot of random shenanigans.”

He said he would support maintaining or expanding the cadet program.

While some owners said crime itself has not been a major issue for their businesses, some believe addressing underlying social challenges is key to preventing problems.

Chambers said some of the individuals seen downtown are struggling with housing or support services.

“When someone reaches a point where they feel unsupported, that’s when poor decisions can happen,” he said.

He said stronger social supports from municipal, provincial and federal governments could help prevent situations that lead to property crime.

“At the end of the day, we love our community,” he said. “We love being downtown, and it’s where we plan to stay.”

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