Security video shows arson attempt at Sechelt coffee shop amid rising crime wave

A small coffee shop in Sechelt, B.C., has become the latest target in what business owners describe as a troubling rise in vandalism and theft across the community.

Desmond Das, owner of The Daily Roast Fine Coffee Company, says he was stunned to learn someone lit his shop’s front door on fire in the early hours of Nov. 28. Security video shows a person approaching the entrance and igniting flames that quickly engulfed the door and destroyed the lock.

“Our entire door was up in flames — you couldn’t even open it,” Das said. His employee called him around 4:30 a.m., unable to get inside because the door had been burned.

The attempted arson follows a string of incidents involving two nearby businesses. Trail Bay Source for Sports was robbed on Halloween by masked suspects who stole around $14,000 in outdoor clothing, and was later vandalized twice. Police have charged a 19-year-old local resident in connection with the vandalism.

Lucky’s Smokehouse restaurant was also hit repeatedly. Its owner says someone broke in on back-to-back nights in early October, stealing nearly all the business’s alcohol each time before police could arrive.

RCMP say the recent incidents in Sechelt include an unusual spike in arson-related files, though formal data hasn’t yet been released. Police have not made arrests in the fire at Das’s coffee shop but say it is under active investigation. Extra foot patrols have been deployed in response to property crime and escalating nuisance behaviour downtown.

Sechelt Mayor John Henderson says the ongoing crime spree has shaken residents and workers.

“It’s become a real burden for first responders and staff, but most concerning is that people are scared to go to work,” he said, calling for stronger consequences for repeat offenders.

Das says his team has been feeling uneasy for weeks, describing encounters with strangers showing up early in the morning and harassing staff. He says he reported the incidents to police before the fire.

Despite the stress, Das says community support in the days since the arson attempt has been overwhelming. Neighbours have offered to come by in the mornings to help staff feel safe.

“That’s exactly why we moved here ten years ago,” he said. “We can’t let a few bad apples destroy the bond this community built.”

Police continue to ask anyone with information about the fire or other recent incidents to come forward.