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' "H- “mm. "Hum“, w...“ M.r.w_rm_ ._mprri__F__ -___.- "r-""'"""'" "T"" artypd his tobacco counter every night. He has a burglar alarm and good locks, but he rs a continual target for robberies. Photo by Elleon Argyrls Pravunllva measures - Colbome pharmacy ownsr Steve Bowskill areas a protective 'cage' mm.mu.:..-..____,, . .. .. _ ' . ' __t _,,tt ' ' .. . So, he says, when he heard a noise and realized someone was breaking into his drugstore yet again. he says he just couldn't turn over in bed and go back to sleep. 'nie noise was caused by the suspects prying open the front door. Once they gained access. they went straight to the drug counter, Mr. Bowsklll said. After a lot of searching, he i1nally found a company that would take the risk of Insuring him - but they are charging him premiums of $8,000 a year. insurance cmcelled Mr. Bowsklll says he has lust goods [mainly drugs and tobacco products) worth over $15,000. as a result of his numerous break-ins. In addition, the Insurance company he has used for 14 years, since he took over the Colbome business, has cancelled his coverage. The shots were itred 'l by Colborne pharma- had to T cist. Steve Bowskill, ' whose business, ...it I do n Downey Pharmacy, was keeps ul being robbed. It has bus been the target of eight robberies in since December. 1991. x "We have not been able to get this stopped. At the rate we're going I don't think there's any small business that could withstand this kind of losses." says the pharmacist. 'iiteenArsrvris Last Thursday morning. some down- town resldents were awakened before 4 a.m. to the unaccustomed sound of gun- fire In the streets of Colbome. - - Shoots tire of fleeing vehicle, pharmacist faces police charges Eight break-i115: . . . if I do nothing and this keeps up, I'm out of business.' -SteveBouerkiu had to make a decisidn Mr. Bowskill. who is a collector of firearms and a marksman, fired and hit the rear tire of the escape vehicle. He then pursued the van in his own car. but, because his car had to be unlocked and started up, the getaway van got a head-start, going north on Percy Street. From his car-plume, he called the police and described the vehicle and the route it was taking. He lost the suspects some- where south of Castleton. This time. the suspects took "several hundred dollars worth of drugs," said the pharmacist. but he feels certain that 1t would have been more, if he had not intengpted them at work. "spirkaVsT/e"fariit'i'" for break-and, entries, he said, "because of the cigarettes and the drugs." Ta.. “a ' . - He said his own stosre has been hit so many times because of its "strategic loca- tion between two OPP districts (Cobuurg and Brighton). The police response time, at best, is far more than what they need (to get away)." As well, Colbome offers ready access to See Shoots, Back Page suspecti got 1'_n The $5.000 burglar alarm he has installed in the store was set off by their shadows and movement. Mr. Bowskill, anneawlth a gun, entered the store and ordered the balaclava-clad men to stop where tleyyrtsre. A van ias parked on Victoria Square, he says. and the fleeing They did not stop, but ran out the back way Into an alley behind the store. Mr: Bowskill pursued. ' "fdid not point the gun at them," he Insists.