A group of Cambridge residents have taken it upon themselves to retrieve stolen items from local encampments.
A video posted to Facebook and sent to BradfordToday and InnisfilToday affiliate CambridgeToday by Julie Jinkerson shows inside the Dundas Street encampment and the piles of items collected by the tenants.
WARNING: The video below contains offensive language and imagery that may be disturbing to some.
"Anyone missing bikes or tools or a toolbox I'll post that in the comments," she wrote.
The video shows Jinkerson along with some friends go into the camp to try and find a child's bike they claim was stolen.
In messages shown to CambridgeToday, Jinkerson was able to get the bike back from an individual at the camp who claimed to have purchased it.
This is not the first time Jinkerson has been to the Dundas Street encampment dubbed "Shantytown," as she was there last month and noticed the large amount of bike parts scattered across the property.
"I was pissed off because two days prior the city was there to remove an outhouse they built," she said in a previous interview with CambridgeToday.
"Police were on scene and saw all the bikes but turned a blind eye to it and did nothing."
The video that was recently posted received over 270 comments and gained the attention of Cambridge city councillor Adam Cooper.
"People are angry. They are feeling violated and victimized within a system that appears powerless or unwilling to help them," said Cooper in an email to CambridgeToday.
"The public feels that the criminals have all the rights and the rest of us are expected to just sit back and take it. Meanwhile, these same criminals hide inside encampments with piles of obviously stolen property in clear view of anybody willing to get close enough."
Cooper adds that the general public feels the judicial system has failed them and are likely going to take action to protect themselves, their family and their property.
Comments to Jinkerson's video range from people trying to organize vigilante groups to go to the encampments and return stolen items to defending the privacy of those living in the tents.
"The only thing we can do is show up in a group and take things away from them. It’s just dangerous because of the drugs they use," one commenter wrote.
"I say let's fight back. Go steal the bike from him take it home and post it on a site as found so someone can have their bike back," wrote another.
Cooper took the opportunity to engage with viewers on the post saying, "I can tell you though that this will only end when the public gets openly and collectively pissed off and takes that anger to the police and our provincial and federal leaders."
Police warn against anyone going into an encampment in an attempt to get back stolen property.
"We encourage anyone who is aware of any criminal activity to contact police and allow an investigation to take place. Confrontation could escalate and safety may be a concern for all involved," said Chris Iden, public information officer for WRPS, in an email to CambridgeToday.
Iden said police are awaiting reports from units at the camp and shelters about any potential vigilantism. He did not confirm if these individuals would be charged with trespassing if caught in the camps.
Cooper wants to see the police have more power and funding to adequately address the needs of the community, saying, "laws don’t get enforced and criminals are not held accountable when the police do not have the resources to do so."
Cooper is also calling on provincial and federal governments to permit municipal regulation of encampments, disavowing justice Michael Valente's decision to bar the region and other municipalities from evicting encampments.
"When it comes to clearing dangerous encampments, municipalities have their hands tied by a highly controversial ruling by Judge Valente that placed greater priority on a user’s desire to use hard drugs than the rights and safety of the surrounding community," he wrote.
"Courts should not, as in the case of the Valente decision, dictate encampment policies that override provincial and municipal authority especially when the end result is so detrimental to community safety."
The Cambridge councillor wants to see the city have the authority to "act swiftly and decisively when public safety is at risk," and not be blocked by a judge's decision.
"The safety of our residents is a priority but it needs to be more than just lip service, it requires meaningful action to back it up."
