Dairy owner forced to close up shop after relentless crime, robbery, intimidation
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National

Dairy owner forced to close up shop after relentless crime, robbery, intimidation

Relentless crime, robberies, and intimidation has forced the owner of Hamilton's Jai Jalaram Showgrounds Superette to shut up shop. 

Buhpendra Patel's family feel it's too unsafe to continue operating and have urged him to close and walk away from the business. 

Patel told Lloyd Burr he is scared to come to work every day.

"It is the worst crime I have ever seen in my life," Patel said.

"Ram raids and robberies…It is very scary when we come down to the shop from 7 am to 7 pm…it is very, very scary."

He told Burr the police respond well when they are called but offer no long-term protection for his business.

"They care about us but once they take our statements and everything they don't come back."

Patel's family are worried he could get hurt if he continues to work in the shop and so he told Burr that is what he has decided to do.

"If I am in the shop, every customer that comes in we have to watch what they are wearing, what they are not wearing…if it is good, then it's good, but if is no good then we are scared."

The shop will be closing this coming Sunday, March 19 and Patel will take a few weeks off to think about what he wants to do long-term.

He told Burr his hobby of gardening will hopefully keep him busy at home during his time away from the shop.

Listen to the full interview between Buhpendra Patel and Lloyd Burr above.

You can also download the full interview on the Lloyd Burr Live podcast, and listen on the go.

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