Charlotte small businesses fed up with repeated break-ins: 'Nature of doing business'

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Property crime ticked up nationwide in 2022, according to FBI crime statistics released last month, and it is hurting businesses.

One small business owner in Charlotte, North Carolina's arts district NoDa told Fox News his shop has been broken into for the eighth time recently.

NoDa Bodega owner Bryan Moore described the neighborhood as "an appealing place to live" with "a lot of I think, more affluent people."

However, Moore said the repairs due to crime are taking a chunk out of his bottom line.

FBI SAYS CAR THEFTS SURGE

The FBI says property crime rose 7% in their 2022 report. (fox news)

"You comin’ in getting a hundred bucks, and we’re having to spend $500 or $600 to replace a door," Moore told Fox News.  

The owner of a nearby wine bar and restaurant, Artisan's Palate, said her establishment has been targeted four times this year.

AL INMATE FACING EXECUTION FOR 1993 MURDER MAKES URGENT PLEA TO YOUNG PEOPLE

The owner, who did not want to appear on camera, told Fox News she is "fed up" after replacing another damaged door and said she is not sure what else to do to prevent the break-ins.

The NoDa neighborhood has new restaurants, bars and condos popping up everywhere, and NoDa's business association said they have increased patrols and are urging people to report any lights out in the area. 

Artisan's Palate, a Charlotte, North Carolina, restaurant, had its door smashed for the fourth time in 2023, the owner said. (Fox News)

Criminologist from North Carolina Wesleyan University Jay Fortenbery said property crime is typically related to poverty and unemployment. 

"They make a rational choice depending on the weight of the crime, the punishment versus the rewards," Fortenbery said. "Are the rewards more beneficial than the punishments right now and what are the odds of getting caught?"

SECURITY COMPANY FIGHTS CRIME THROUGH AI

Moore does not see an end in sight to the criminal activity. "At this point, it’s just become the nature of doing business," he said.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP 

The FBI's 2022 crime data shows only 14% of stolen property was actually recovered.

Disclaimer: The copyright of this article belongs to the original author. Reposting this article is solely for the purpose of information dissemination and does not constitute any investment advice. If there is any infringement, please contact us immediately. We will make corrections or deletions as necessary. Thank you.