Dr. Yvette Linklater, owner of the Hook 'n' Sea Craft and Gift Shop, used her method when vandals tried to steal barbecues off her property the night of April 15. The units were secured to propane lines and the attempt failed.
In a posting made through social media, Linklater gave the vandals three days to confess to the deed. The offer included a warning that a video of the destruction existed and if the guilty person(s) did not step forward, it would be turned over to police for investigation and possible charges.
Business manager Ellie Joyce’ says although some may think the owner’s method is somewhat unusual, there’s a reason for it. She says that Linklater believes as a member of the village she has a moral obligation to understand the reasoning behind the behaviours of those who perpetrate the crimes against her property.
“Sometimes it may be a cry for help (dysfunctional family issues) or it may be drunken foolish behaviour. Three days to come forward gives them the chance to think about what they have done and apologize,” she said.
Linklater asks the individuals what they think the penalty should be. Confidential restitution is performed by helping the needy/elderly or by community deeds.
“She has had no problem with this way of handling the perpetrators,” said Joyce’. She has stated that people do not realize how difficult it is to come forward and admit a wrongdoing. It takes courage to do this.”
Linklater used the same approach before when an Adirondack chair was stolen. The guilty parties came forward and returned the chair, with a great deal of remorse.
“They apologized many times and had not taken into consideration what effect their actions would have had on their families, the embarrassment or shame their families would have faced,” said Joyce’.
Although Linklater’s approach was applauded on social media by some, others expressed concern that the incident was not immediately reported to RCMP.
RCMP ‘H’ division media relations officer Cpl. Jennifer Clarke says the force would be concerned about liability and safety issues in a case like this.
“We do have a program that is available to victims of some crimes when the suspect is known and does take responsibility for the criminal act: restorative justice,” she said. “It's often a much faster process than the traditional court process and results in 'sentences' that are relevant to the crime committed.”
The perpetrator(s) responsible for the barbecue vandalism did contact the business after several days and apologized. An agreement for confidential restitution was made.
“If they ever pull anything like this again, then charges will be laid,” said Joyce’.
Dr. Yvette Linklater, owner of the Hook 'n' Sea Craft and Gift Shop, used her method when vandals tried to steal barbecues off her property the night of April 15. The units were secured to propane lines and the attempt failed.
In a posting made through social media, Linklater gave the vandals three days to confess to the deed. The offer included a warning that a video of the destruction existed and if the guilty person(s) did not step forward, it would be turned over to police for investigation and possible charges.
Business manager Ellie Joyce’ says although some may think the owner’s method is somewhat unusual, there’s a reason for it. She says that Linklater believes as a member of the village she has a moral obligation to understand the reasoning behind the behaviours of those who perpetrate the crimes against her property.
“Sometimes it may be a cry for help (dysfunctional family issues) or it may be drunken foolish behaviour. Three days to come forward gives them the chance to think about what they have done and apologize,” she said.
Linklater asks the individuals what they think the penalty should be. Confidential restitution is performed by helping the needy/elderly or by community deeds.
“She has had no problem with this way of handling the perpetrators,” said Joyce’. She has stated that people do not realize how difficult it is to come forward and admit a wrongdoing. It takes courage to do this.”
Linklater used the same approach before when an Adirondack chair was stolen. The guilty parties came forward and returned the chair, with a great deal of remorse.
“They apologized many times and had not taken into consideration what effect their actions would have had on their families, the embarrassment or shame their families would have faced,” said Joyce’.
Although Linklater’s approach was applauded on social media by some, others expressed concern that the incident was not immediately reported to RCMP.
RCMP ‘H’ division media relations officer Cpl. Jennifer Clarke says the force would be concerned about liability and safety issues in a case like this.
“We do have a program that is available to victims of some crimes when the suspect is known and does take responsibility for the criminal act: restorative justice,” she said. “It's often a much faster process than the traditional court process and results in 'sentences' that are relevant to the crime committed.”
The perpetrator(s) responsible for the barbecue vandalism did contact the business after several days and apologized. An agreement for confidential restitution was made.
“If they ever pull anything like this again, then charges will be laid,” said Joyce’.
