Toronto business owner worried about insurance claims after series of break-ins
A North York business owner says she's constantly worried her business will be broken into after experiencing a series of break-ins within the last year.
"Since 2023, and I've been reading my proof of loss records, there has been seven or eight break-ins destroying the walls the windows and the doors," said Karen Weidenfelder, the owner of Pipe Tools Supply Limited.
The business is 106 years old and has been run by Weidenfelder for the past 50 years after taking over from her father.
- Download our app to get local alerts on your device
- Get the latest local updates right to your inbox
Weidenfelder contacted CTV News after seeing a story about Toronto police's summit held at city hall earlier this month, as police are seeing a 40 per cent increase in break-ins in the city in the past six months.
At the summit, several business owners shared how they're having trouble getting insurance after being broken into or expressed how they're afraid to make any claims as their premiums will go up.
- READ MORE: Targeted debit machines thefts soar in Toronto as criminals get more sophisticated: police
Weidenfelder thought that after more than a century in operation, her business might have to close as she was denied insurance for having too many break-and-enter claims.
"They cancelled me in January or December, and I panicked. They declined the insurance, and I thought I was done," said Weidenfelder.
She says she often won't make a claim since her deductible is so high, and she feels it's not worth it.
While her daughter Candice wants to continue with the family business, Weidenfelder sometimes feels it is becoming too much work.
"You just get so turned off, and you wonder is it worth it or should you just liquidate and get out," said Weidenfelder.
After searching for almost two months and making security upgrades, Weidenfelder was able to get insurance, but she hopes she will never have to make a claim again.
She said she wanted to come forward to let people know that businesses are facing hardship due to multiple break-ins and that the justice system should take break-and-enters more seriously.
For now, she plans to press on and keep the family business going.
"Your best bet is to bolt down the best you can, with new sirens, lighting and all the best security stuff and hopefully they don't get in," said Weidenfelder.
Toronto police statistics show that in 2023, there were 7,643 break-ins, 3,090 of which were commercial, 3,911 residential, and 642 deemed as other.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6976871.1721873052!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpg)
DEVELOPING Jasper updates: 'Significant loss' within Jasper townsite
One of two wildfires threatening Jasper National Park has reached the townsite.
Alberta calls in army to assist with wildfire situation
Alberta has called in the Canadian Armed Forces to help assist with the worsening wildfire situation in the province.
Biden explains why he ended re-election bid in Oval Office address
U.S. President Joe Biden on Wednesday delivered a solemn call to voters to defend the country's democracy as he laid out in an Oval Office address his decision to drop his bid for reelection and throw his support behind Vice President Kamala Harris.
Barrie-Innisfil MPP 'blacked-out' and crashed car into window of child care centre
Staff at a Barrie child care centre say they are frustrated by what they call a local MPP's inadequate response after a car crashed through a window in one of the toddler rooms.
Norad intercepts Russian and Chinese bombers operating together near Alaska in apparent first
The North American Aerospace Defence Command (Norad) intercepted two Russian and two Chinese bombers flying near Alaska Wednesday in what appears to be the first time the two countries have been intercepted while operating together.
2 Canadians being 'sent home immediately,' removed from Olympic team after drone incident
An analyst and an assistant coach with Canada Soccer are being removed from the Canadian Olympic Team and 'sent home immediately,' according to the Canadian Olympic Committee.
An unwelcome attendee has joined the Paris Olympic Games: COVID-19
After a handful of Australian water polo players tested positive for COVID-19 this week, questions have emerged around how the spread of the disease will be mitigated at the Summer Olympic Games in Paris.
Vacations, meals, booze: Contractor used $100K of charity's money for personal expenses, B.C. court finds
A B.C. man who was hired to help a non-profit build a food hub but instead spent the money on personal expenses – including travel, restaurants, booze and cannabis – has been ordered to pay more than $120,000 in damages.
Male, female killed, 2 others injured in 'gun battle' outside Toronto plaza: police
Two people are dead and two others suffered serious injuries following a shooting that police have described as a 'gun battle' outside a plaza in Scarborough, Ont. early Wednesday morning.