A daylight break-in last week at a west-end art gallery is serving as a stark reminder for local businesses to remain extra vigilant during the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak.

Someone smashed the door of Gallery 1313 in Parkdale last Friday and forced their way inside. The gallery had been closed since March 16 due to the pandemic.

Owner and executive director Phil Anderson said he took his work computer home with him, but the thieves stole four old-model laptops that were left in the office.

They also broke into the gallery’s donations box, but made away with maybe $5.

“It’s a little bit brazen for thieves to come and break into a business at 10:30 in the morning,” he said, noting the irony that the gallery’s premises at 1313 Queen St. W. used to be a police station years ago.

“I think they were looking for anything that they can turn into quick cash, because they didn’t steal any artwork,” he said. “I find it so unfortunate that bad people would want to take advantage of the ongoing isolation and want to steal from a non-profit.”

Anderson had been showcasing art from students at York University and OCAD University when the gallery closed. Most of the other pieces of art on display had already been taken down and properly stored, and none of it was affected by the break-in.

Artscape, an umbrella organization that works with artists in the community, helped with the door repairs and the installation of boards to ensure more security.

Anderson said he has worked in Parkdale for 23 years but had never been a victim of a break-in.

But there Anna Bartula, executive director of Parkdale Village BIA, said there have been “red flag waves” for the past few weeks.

“We’ve been having discussions with other BIAs across the city, and businesses are scrambling to find out how they can board up their property and taking extra steps to protect their belongings,” she said.

The BIA has partnered with police in 14 Division to disseminate information on how to increase safety during this period of isolation and physical distancing. Businesses have been asked to submit “night directory information” to police — whether the buildings have alarms and video surveillance, for instance, and who to call in emergencies.

Other tips include emptying cash drawers often, using deadbolt locks on exterior doors, installing efficient alarm systems and using quality CCTV systems whenever possible. Business owners have also been advised to remove valuables from visible areas of stores, such as electronics, alcohol and other expensive products. Wherever possible, people are encouraged to post signs on windows and doors that indicate there are “no cash or goods on hand.”

“I think some people are financially and emotionally desperate right now,” said Bartula, adding criminals are taking advantage of “empty streets.”

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The Assembly Theatre, also in Parkdale, was broken into a few days ago. Even when not much is stolen, a robbery is still a huge problem because business owners have to make thousands of dollars in repairs, Bartula said.

“Daytime vandalism is scary. It shows the high levels of desperation for someone to hit a small gallery with no big profits whatsoever,” she said.