Business owners and staff of downtown Windsor bars and restaurants continue foot patrols in an effort to deter crime in the downtown core.
In early September, the owner of Phog Lounge on University Ave. W. raised concerns over an increase in property crime in the city core, prompting Windsor Police Chief Al Frederick to hold a news conference one day later to discuss the issue.
Tom Lucier told AM800's The Afternoon News that dozens of Windsor police officers and auxiliary officers were brought in for the Windsor International Film Festival and it illustrated a need for more foot patrols in the area.
"The frustration is there because, when the police were there for WIFF they [thieves] weren't around because they knew that there was a presence," says Lucier.
He says police are out in full force during events or on weekend when there's already enough people walking around to discourage crime, but that's not when they're actually needed.
"Sunday to Thursday, in the late evening or even early mornings when people aren't around, or aren't supposed to be," he says. "I'm not supposed to be out there with other bar owners, management and bartenders walking around the street."
Lucier and several others say they witnessed two men walking down University Ave. W. blatantly pulling on car door handles after 3am in front of Phog Lounge.
He says he shouted to the men that he'd called police, and to stop, but they just continued on their way.
"I don't want to approach these people, I have no interest in approaching them and having an interaction, so we do what we're supposed to do and we call and it doesn't ever become anything," says Lucier.