‘We’re losing our downtown’: Moncton anti-crime coalition gaining traction

Frustrated Moncton business owners say they want to see action on crime in the area.

It’s come to this for Pierre Nadeau, a realtor and co-owner of Creativ Realty in downtown Moncton, N.B.

Nadeau and his staff have dealt with theft, vandalism, violence and break-ins over the past few years and he’s taken precautions to protect them.

“We had to help them with bear mace. We had to buy small baseball bats in case something would happen. We had to put cameras inside the building. We had to put cameras and flood lights outside the building. We had to do access pass only,” said Nadeau. “We had to put panic buttons in case of distress.”

In 2023, the company spent over $60,000 on overnight security, building modifications and safety measures.

Seeing drug use and crime in the downtown core saddens Nadeau and it’s a big concern for his business.

But he’s not considering selling and relocating because he’s hoping the situation will get better.

“It cannot get worse. But had I known of the measures I would need to take to run my operation here in downtown Moncton before I purchased the property, I would have considered different options for sure,” said Nadeau. “This investment is in my opinion no longer an asset, but more of a liability.”

Business owner Jo-Anne Phillips had one of her downtown properties broken into early Monday morning and the act was captured on surveillance video.

The front door window was smashed and replacing it will be difficult because it’s an older, unique home.

“It’s going to cost me over $2,000 to fix up that door,” said Phillips.

The Codiac Regional RCMP are investigating, but no arrests had been made as of Wednesday afternoon.

“We need to press charges. When criminal activities are happening and we’re not pressing charges the system can’t do its job,” said Phillips.

Phillips believes it was a homeless person who broke into the unoccupied rental space.

She said she feels for that community and knows they need help.

“These individuals can be in a different environment so they can be encouraged not to do these things,” said Phillips. “We’re losing our downtown, but it’s not because we don’t care it’s because we’re not letting the system work.”

Coalition for safer downtown

Both Phillips and Nadeau are strong supporters of the Enough is Enough coalition which started around a month ago.

It’s a group of Moncton business owners, property managers and landlords who formed the coalition demanding government action on downtown crime.

Ashford Properties President and coalition spokesperson Patrick Gillespie said they’ve received well over 3,000 signatures on an online petition demanding change.

“We expect the numbers just to continue to grow,” said Gillespie.

Gillespie said downtown crime is “out of control” and he wants the police and all forms of government to focus on reducing it.

“For whatever reason in the last few years, crime has risen exponentially. I don’t know why, can’t point to any particular issue, but that’s for the RCMP and government officials and experts to figure out how to deal with this,” said Gillespie.

The group have taken their concerns to the City of Moncton, but have not met in-person with them as of yet.

In an email to CTV News, Codiac Regional RCMP Supt. Benoit Jolette said they are aware of the coalition, but haven’t been contacted by any representatives of the group yet.

“We are always looking to do better and are available to meet with stakeholders who have an interest in public safety,” said Jolette. “I’m happy that local businesses and residents are aware of social issues which can hamper public safety in the Greater Moncton area. It shows that these individuals and group care about their community.”

The man in charge of Moncton’s police force said they are willing to work on initiatives that can have a positive impact on downtown safety and safety overall.

“Codiac RCMP cares about our community, because we are residents as well,” said Jolette.

Co_Pain Artisan Bread Company and Roche Papier Ciseaux-Moncton Owner, Elki Imbeault, has also been a victim of crime in the past and thinks the city is at a bit of a crossroads when it comes to safety.

He would like to see some sort of neighbourhood watch program and more police foot patrols, but doesn’t think every crime needs a response from the RCMP.

“If we see something we can say something. We can intervene. Sort of like almost some civil vigilantes where we have a say in what’s happening and we don’t always have to get the police involved,” said Imbeault.

Phillips supports the community initiative and hope it gains momentum.

“We’re not targeting the unhoused. We’re not targeting one group. We’re targeting criminals and we need those criminals to be charged and we need those criminals to be listed in the system so they can get the help they need,” said Phillips.

Nadeau is also fully behind Enough is Enough and their efforts.

“I think our citizens deserve better. I think our tourists deserve better and I think our kids more importantly deserve better,” said Nadeau.

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