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Bronte misses village constable as vandalism occurs continued from p.1 On April 29, someone broke into the chip wagon overnight and stole cash and soft drinks. Less than a week later, on May 4, someone broke into the Lakeshore Road West business again. This time, stealing cash, smashing equipment and spraying condiments all over the chip wagon's interior. On this occasion, the suspects left behind a note advising Rawdah to invest in better security. During the summer, two more attempts were made to break into Rawdah's business and while these were not successful, the chip wagon still sustained damage. "I'm not mad. I'm just tired," said the entrepreneur. "I don't know what to do. I need help." Rawdah said he was been working in Bronte for eight years and has never had these kinds of problems until now. The only thing that has changed that he is aware of is last year's removal of the Bronte Village Constable. A village constable is a Halton police officer assigned to provide a familiar and visible police presence within a particular district of Oakville. Historically, village constables have been stationed in Downtown Oakville, Kerr Village and Bronte. Halton Regional Police Service Public Affairs Officer Dave Cross said the Bronte Village Constable position was discontinued following a decision to redeploy police resources. "We still have patrol officers who are assigned to the area. We just have no specific officer denoted as the Bronte Village Constable," said Cross. "It's not that the area is un-policed, it's just that (the) specific position doesn't exist there anymore." In Kerr Village, a village constable currently serves on a Community Consultation Committee, which gives the local BIA and residents' associations an avenue where they can talk with the same police officer about what is happening in the community. The officer can also raise awareness among these groups about criminal activity taking Mary Roberts, chair of the Bronte BIA, also spoke about the current situation in the lakeside village. "We were very disappointed when the village constable was removed. Bronte is a fairly safe place so I think that was one of the reasons it was felt the constable wasn't necessary," she said. "I think there has been a bit of an upswing in general vandalism. People getting their flowerpots tipped over, a little bit of property damage and that sort of thing. The village constable is certainly something we would love to have reinstated." Roberts said on one occasion a flower display in front of her business was destroyed. Other merchants, she said, have reported the theft of items left outside during the night. Not the worst thing in the world, she said, but fairly upsetting when this is the first thing you have to deal with in the morning. Rawdah echoed these remarks. "You come to work, you open up and the whole place is vandalized and broken into. You have to clean up and do this and that just to open and keep going," he said. "It makes you tired." 3 | Wednesday, August 21, 2013 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com Bronte Village businessman Sammy Rawdah is `tired' of vandalism and wishes the Bronte Village Constable would be returned. | photo by David Lea ­ Oakville Beaver Thank you Oakville for nominating us under the categories of Best Investment Company and Best Financial Planner place and ways to address it. Radwah said he is appreciative that Halton police have sent an officer to offer advice and tips on how to make his business more secure, but nonetheless would welcome back a village constable. "I see groups of kids at night walking around. Some of them have bottles of booze, drinking vodka and stuff like that. This has been going on since they took the village constable out of Bronte," said Rawdah. "We need them back really badly. This is a tourism area here. We need the village constable for the summer, at least." Rawdah is not the only merchant having trouble. Employees at nearby Evolve Studio said they have been having problems with vandalism this summer, particularly with people kicking over outdoor flower decorations during the night. Peter Watson MBA, CFP, R.F.P., CIM, FCSI Certified Financial Planner SINCE 1991 220 Randall Street · Downtown Oakville Phone: 905.842.2100 www.peterwatsoninvestments.com Don't Compromise on Driver Training UPCOMING COURSES · 20 hours in class · 10 hours online · 10 hours in car (automatic) OR · 12 hours in car (manual) · MTO Approved Beginner Driver Education Program Provider August 26,27,28,29 Mon, Tues, Wed, Thurs 9:30am to 3:30pm September 21,22,28,29 Saturday,Sunday 9:30am to 3:30pm Oct 5,6,19,20 Saturday and Sunday. Please note that there are no classes the Thanksgiving day weekend. In-car done according to your schedule. www.drivewiseoakville.com 905-845-7200