The owners of “Smoke & Brine,” a popular downtown Victoria food truck, are questioning whether they’re being deliberately targeted after suffering their fourth break-in this summer. The latest incident, which occurred early Tuesday morning, has left owners Maria and Carlos Jimenez wondering how much more they can endure.
“We cannot take it anymore,” said Maria Jimenez, surveying the damage to their food truck parked near Centennial Square. “This isn’t random. Someone keeps coming back, and the police response has been frustratingly slow.”
The break-in, captured on security cameras the couple installed after previous incidents, shows a person in a dark hoodie prying open the service window around 3:15 a.m. The footage reveals the suspect methodically searching through equipment before making off with approximately $800 in cash and damaging specialized cooking equipment.
For the Jimenez family, who immigrated from Mexico in 2017 and launched their business featuring Pacific Northwest seafood with Latin American flavors, the repeated vandalism has created both financial strain and emotional distress.
“We’ve invested everything into this business,” Carlos explained while replacing the damaged window lock. “Insurance helps, but our deductible is $500, and our premiums have already doubled this year. Each time this happens, we lose a day of business too.”
The Victoria Police Department confirmed they’re investigating the incident but stopped short of connecting it to previous break-ins at the same location. Constable Terrence Malloy noted that downtown businesses have experienced a 23% increase in property crime since last year.
“We understand the frustration small business owners feel,” said Malloy. “While we can’t comment on specific investigative details, we are reviewing the security footage and have increased patrols in that area.”
Several neighboring businesses have expressed solidarity with the Jimenez family. Sofia Chen, who owns a nearby clothing boutique, has experienced similar issues.
“The city keeps talking about revitalizing downtown, but they’re not addressing the basic security concerns we face,” Chen said. “Small businesses like ours operate on such thin margins already.”
The Victoria Downtown Business Association has been advocating for increased police presence and better lighting in certain areas. Executive Director Rachel Thomson says their data shows property crime disproportionately affects food service businesses.
“Mobile vendors are particularly vulnerable,” Thomson explained. “They can’t install permanent security systems, and their equipment is specialized and valuable. We’re working with the city on several initiatives, but change isn’t happening fast enough for businesses suffering right now.”
City councillor Martin Reeves acknowledged the concerns but pointed to resource limitations. “We passed additional funding for downtown security in our last budget cycle, but implementation takes time. The reality is we’re dealing with complex social issues that go beyond simple policing solutions.”
For the Jimenez family, theoretical solutions offer little immediate comfort. Their food truck, which earned “Best New Street Food” honors in a local magazine last year, has become their primary source of income and a source of pride.
“We serve over a hundred customers on busy days,” Maria said. “People love our food and we love being part of this community. But how can we keep going when we spend our mornings cleaning up damage instead of preparing food?”
The couple has started a GoFundMe campaign to help install more comprehensive security measures, including motion sensors and reinforced service windows. Local restaurant owners have also organized a benefit dinner for later this month.
Meanwhile, Carlos and Maria are adjusting their operating schedule, no longer keeping the truck parked overnight at their usual location. This creates logistical challenges, as they now must transport equipment daily between their commissary kitchen and service location.
“We’ve built something special here,” Carlos said, gesturing toward the colorful truck featuring hand-painted coastal scenes. “We won’t let someone take that from us. But we need help – from police, from the city, from everyone who says they want a vibrant downtown.”
As Victoria grapples with how to balance its reputation as a tourism destination with growing urban challenges, the experiences of small business owners like the Jimenez family highlight the personal cost behind the statistics. Their story resonates with many entrepreneurs who see their livelihoods increasingly vulnerable to property crime.
“We didn’t come all this way to give up,” Maria said, as she prepped ingredients for the day’s service, determined to open despite the morning’s setbacks. “But some days, I wonder if Victoria still wants businesses like ours downtown.”
