A Winnipeg business owner says he turned to the community instead of the police after two youths recently stole from his store because he wanted to give them a second chance — and he’s glad he did.
Ravi Ramberran, owner of Four Crowns Restaurant and Bar in the northwest area of Winnipeg, posted screenshots of surveillance footage on social media that showed two young people stealing alcohol products from his beer vendor last week.
In the post, he also offered the people involved a chance to come forward and find a solution before he pursued charges.
“When I saw the video, and I saw the way the boys reacted to what they were doing, [it] just seemed very, very childish,” Ramberran told CBC News on Wednesday.
But Ramberran says he was impressed when the two people — ages 14 and 15 — reached out.
“We got together, we talked to them, and it was fantastic,” said Ramberran. “Turns out they’re not seasoned criminals at all. They were very sorry for their actions.”
Ramberran says his business sees theft every couple of days, but the culprits are usually adults.
“[From] the innocence I saw in that video, I thought maybe we can change these guys,” he said, and he hoped the teens could “learn from someone who’s not a teacher or principal or a police officer how these things can go bad, and why it’s important to stop now.”
He told the teens about the consequences of pressing charges, which would impact their ability to get a mortgage and jobs, or cross the U.S. border.
“They had no idea how bad the real consequences could be if we pursued [charges],” he said, adding that going to police might lead to “a quick rap sheet” for the teens, possibly resulting in them committing more crime.
“We need to teach our neighbourhood that these things can’t happen, and then, what the real consequences are,” he said.
The teens have agreed to volunteer with Ramberran’s business in order to cover the costs of what they stole, he said, and he’s offered them a chance to work at his restaurant in the future.
Give kids opportunity to do the right thing: advocate
Daniel Hidalgo, the executive director of the Winnipeg outreach group CommUnity 204, said Ramberran’s response to the situation is “refreshing.”
“It sends the message that youth, when presented with an opportunity to do something right and good, will often take it,” he said.
“Oftentimes, they’re not given those chances, so they’re more likely and susceptible to take risky opportunities rather than do something good.”
Hidalgo says it’s a teachable moment, and that young people could use more of them.
“We need to keep giving youth resources and opportunities to do great things, and you’ll be surprised at how well they really do,” he told CBC News.
“I was one — all I really needed was someone to believe in me.”
Hidalgo says he’s seen a rise in youth engaging in risky behaviour, which he believes stems from lack of mentorship, resources or access to the goods they’re trying to steal.
“Sometimes, they’re really fulfilling a survival need, and so it’s important to be cognizant of those things as well,” he said.
He hopes more business owners will follow Ramberran’s example.
“I think this is a very safe, professional way that might help shift the mindset of these youth, but also shift the mindset of other business owners in the area or in our city that might experience similar circumstances down the road.”
Theft ‘a fact of life’
Ramberran says he would be open to offering the same opportunity to other kids in the future, but it’s something to be considered on a case-by-case basis, as he has seen other young people brazenly steal from his business.
He would like to see other business owners consider the same approach, but he has doubts.
“It’d be nice, but it’s extremely time consuming [and] a lot of business owners just don’t care to do this type of stuff,” he said. “But hopefully it does create a bit more of a culture of that.”
Theft has become “a fact of life” for Winnipeg business owners, he said.
“We have to build a better future for our city, and we can’t always rely on the police or the justice system to do that,” he said.
“We have to stand up as individuals now, and protect our own city as well.”
Ravi Ramberran, owner of Four Crowns Restaurant and Bar in Winnipeg, posted screenshots to social media of surveillance footage that showed two teens as they stole alcohol products from his beer vendor last week. Ramberran says he was impressed when the two culprits, aged 14 and 15, came forward to confess.
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