Security agreement under review after string of break-ins at Victoria’s Royal Athletic Park

The City of Victoria is reviewing its security agreement with the Victoria Harbour Cats following a series of break-ins at Royal Athletic Park.

Harbour Cats managing partner Jim Swanson said there have been seven break-ins since the start of the baseball season in June.

The park’s fences and locks have been damaged, along with seven food trucks that park there for much of the summer.

“Our food trucks feel like they’re sitting ducks,” Swanson said.

“I’m willing to have a sleepover here a few nights in a row if that’s what it takes to find somebody and identify them. We’re tired of it and we want it to end.”

Cup-A-Roni owner Jacqui Tacon said her food truck and many others have been hit twice.

During the first break-in, Tacon said the culprits cut the bolt on her truck’s back door and tried to pry open a window. During the second break-in, she believes they took a grinder to the door latch.

“I’m not really sure what they’re targeting,” Tacon said, noting cash and valuables aren’t kept inside overnight.

She says the thieves took pop, candy, tools and a cellphone.

“It’s a real inconvenience because I go in and I have to replace all the food. I’m not taking any chances if they’ve touched anything,” she said.

Sub-Zero Ice Cream owner Devon Saini found damage on the side of his truck on June 30.

“Thankfully, in this instance, I wasn’t mechanically or operationally affected. The damage is mostly cosmetic,” said owner Devon Saini.

It appears the vandals pried open and cut a hole in an air vent on the driver’s side door, allowing them to get inside.

“And then made away with their ice cream bounty,” Saini said.

He says the nuisance and the cost of repairs come at a difficult time.

“None of which we really need right now, especially in the events industry this year,” he said.

“Costs have gone so high, parades have been cancelled.”

The city owns Royal Athletic Park and has a user agreement with the Harbour Cats.

Victoria Parks and Recreation Director Derrick Newman said permit holders that host events in the park are required to provide insurance and security for their own assets.

“However, the arrangement with the Harbour Cats is a bit different. That’s a multi-year agreement; it’s a bit more complex,” Newman said.

“The city is reviewing that agreement to get aligned with the Harbour Cats on the roles and responsibilities for security within the facility.”

Swanson said a solution can be found if the club, city and the Victoria Police Department work together.

“We really ramped up the communication this last weekend,” he said. “We found that everybody wanted to come to the table very quickly.”

He said on Sunday, the Victoria Police Department installed cameras beside the food trucks. Security personnel aren’t on site overnight, but Swanson said it’s worth considering.

He believes at least two people are behind the break-ins.

“This isn’t just somebody deciding to be a jerk and jump over a fence and cause a ruckus for no reason,” he said. “This is targeted.”