Pubdate: Sun, 08 Jan 2017
Source: Toronto Sun (CN ON)
Copyright: 2017 Canoe Limited Partnership
Contact: http://www.torontosun.com/letter-to-editor
Website: http://torontosun.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/457
Author: Terry Davidson
Page: 10

RISKY BUSINESSES

Medicinal pot shops vulnerable to robbery: Advocate

The "vulnerability" to robbery that medicinal pot shops face is
"nothing new," an advocate says in the wake of a violent knife-point
holdup in Toronto's west end.

Tracy Curley says dispensaries have become marks in a recent "rash" of
robberies due to their prohibited "high-value" inventory and she noted
many shops are not reporting such crimes to police for fear of being
raided.

"Almost 20 years ago, Toronto got its first medical marijuana
dispensary," the medical marijuana advocate said Saturday.

"They had an open door policy ... They were robbed. When they reported
it to police, (investigators launched a) six-month investigation that
then got them raided ... It's not something new."

Toronto Police were called to Evergreen Medicinals on Dundas St. W.,
near Roncesvalles Ave., just before 4 p.m. Friday after three masked
marauders robbed the place and stabbed an employee.

Const. Victor Kwong said the crime was reported by a next-door
business.

Last Wednesday, he said, another pot shop was robbed at gunpoint but
the report to police did not come from the shop and the manager wasn't
talking to investigators.

Police began a crackdown on dispensaries last spring with Project
Claudia, resulting in raids on 43 shops and 90 arrests.

Curley says shops must start protecting themselves from robbery with
reinforced glass, cameras, security, reduced signage, hidden product,
and secured waiting areas where customers are kept out until proven to
be legit.

"I'm glad to see some dispensaries now have started to hire
professional security people," she said, noting it's a slow process,
however.

"Once we get into legalization, it's going to be no different than a
liquor store, a pharmacy (or a) grocery store as far as security risk
is concerned.

"But as long as it is prohibited and people know dispensary owners are
afraid to call police, they're going to continue to be a target."
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MAP posted-by: Matt