As theft and vandalism continue to impact Winnipeg businesses and retailers, two West End places of worship say recent break-ins have left their members in danger.

The Winnipeg Central Mosque and the First Mennonite Church of Winnipeg were both burglarized this past weekend.

Jennifer Rahman, president of the mosque’s board of trustees, said the break-in dampened community morale and sparked discussions about how to deter crime.

“Businesses in the area are suffering because of this. Many of them have already had to put shutters on their windows because of this type of break-in, and now we’re going to have to do the same,” Rahman said. .

“It makes the place less welcoming and less attractive, but it’s important for us to maintain security now.”

The front door of the Ellice Avenue mosque was smashed around 4:30 a.m. on Oct. 19 and a small amount of money was stolen from a donation box, Rahman said. News radio host Marcy Markusa in a Friday interview.

Nothing else was damaged and no one was injured, but it was the worst burglary the mosque has seen since it opened 20 years ago, she said.

“We haven’t had a situation this bad in all these years. There have been small cases, but not like this, and I think it speaks to a larger systemic problem in the community that we need to really examine and resolve.”

Rahman said police are still investigating, but so far there is no indication the break-in was targeted or an act of Islamophobia.

She suspects it’s more likely linked to socioeconomic factors like poverty and food insecurity.

“Our communities cannot fund a limited amount on their own,” Rahman said. “I would like to see more investment in programs and, you know, centers for young people to do things, productive things and be able to benefit from mentoring.”

More break-ins since the pandemic, according to the minister

David Driedger, lead pastor at First Mennonite Church of Notre Dame, says there has been an increase in break-ins since the COVID-19 pandemic began.

Most recently, all of the church’s office windows were broken this past weekend.

He also doesn’t believe his church on Notre-Dame Avenue was targeted for religious reasons, but he recognizes the historical harm churches have caused within various communities, including Indigenous people.

Driedger also recognized the deaths of an Ethiopian couple who died last month in a fire in the apartments above the House of Covenant International Church, on Main Street at Atlantic Avenue, as a “pure tragedy.”

Police believe the fire was deliberately set. A 28-year-old man has been charged with two counts of second-degree murder and arson in connection with the deadly Sept. 14 fire that shook the Ethiopian and Eritrean communities who attend the church.

Driedger echoed Rahman’s position regarding the need for more funding and resources dedicated to supporting vulnerable people in the city’s West End.

“We need to understand that other parts of the city are underserved and people need to be somewhere,” he said. News radio Friday.

“We must collectively, as a city, embrace…our population as a whole and dedicate resources where they are needed most.”

At the same time, “we want people, when they come to worship, to feel safe here,” Driedger said.

Earlier this week, the province announced it was extending funding for its Anti-Retail Theft Initiative, which funds police overtime to target areas identified as theft hotspots, including including the West End.

The funding extension will also hire 12 additional officers who will begin patrolling next month as part of the initiative, which also includes the Osborne Village and Exchange District areas.

Contacted by CBC about the break-ins, Winnipeg police said they could not comment before publication.