ClassiCuts Oasis owner Grace Engel (left), and Tiffany Dam with Tips n Toes, which has a space inside Engel's salon, stand next to the shattered front door of their storefront. (rdnewsNOW/Josh Hall)

By Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

"I AM TOTALLY DONE WITH THE CRIME HERE"

Red Deer salon owner vows to run for council after latest break-in

Jan 17, 2020 | 8:05 AM

A Red Deer business owner says that after being broken into Thursday morning there’s no doubt she’s running for city council come 2021.

Grace Engel, owner of ClassiCuts Oasis Salon at Taylor Drive and Kent Street in north Red Deer, says her store has been broken into twice in recent memory. The latest was this morning (Jan. 16) between 3:30-4 a.m.

“I am totally done with the crime here. I love the heck out of this city, but it’s time for changes to be made,” she says. “We need to change the employment situation and the City turning down different opportunities.”

Engel cites the City’s restrictions around where cannabis production facilities can open as one avenue Red Deer has missed out on in terms of job creation.

“We’re turning down jobs, the rich are getting richer, and everyone else is becoming jobless,” she says. “That’s why crime is happening, and the same thing goes for drug addiction.”

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She also isn’t convinced that crime rates in Red Deer are improving.

“I think it’s getting worse, and even though police responded this morning super fast, which I’m grateful for, there still are not enough members to protect the people of this city,” Engel adds. “I think we need to start banding together, especially independent businesses.”

Engel estimates the damages from Thursday’s break-in will cost her several thousands of dollars.

Anyone with information on the incident can call Red Deer RCMP at 403-343-5575 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS.