(Courtesy: The City of Claremont)
Some local businesses fearing break-ins received funding from the city of Claremont for shatter-proof window films through the Storefront Vandalism Prevention Business Grant Program about a month ago.
While some Claremont business owners and 5C students view Claremont as a safe place, the city and police department have advised people to remain mindful of their surroundings while in public.
The grant program offers reimbursement to businesses that install shatter-proof window films “to prevent or mitigate” vandalism or burglary, deputy city manager Katie Wand wrote in an email to TSL. The city can provide up to $2,000 in assistance after a business has installed a window film from a third-party vendor.
In an interview with TSL, Wand said the idea came from a Claremont City Council member who had heard concerns from local business owners like himself about commercial burglary.
Last October, Claremont Mayor Sal Medina and the rest of the City Council made a formal Council direction to allocate $50,000 of surplus funds to the program. Eligible businesses could then start applying for funding on May 12, 2025.
Since May, only a few applications have come in.
“There honestly haven’t been that many,” Wand said. “I think there’s been two complete applications submitted that we have funded.”
The businesses that have received the grant so far are Aruffo’s Italian Cuisine on Yale Ave. and Euro Cafe on Baseline Road.
Joey Nuno Medeiros, owner-operator of Euro Cafe, said he had applied for the grant to prevent burglaries or at least increase the amount of time it takes for burglars to enter so the police can arrive.
“We’ve been open 21 years and we’ve probably been broken into five times,” Medeiros said.
Euro Cafe has a completely glass storefront and he said they have had to learn how to protect from break-ins based on burglars’ behavior in these smash and grab incidents. While some have entered through the door, he said, others have broken windows to come in.
“We’ve done what we can, especially through this grant program now, to reinforce the glass,” Medeiros said.
He described applying for the grant as a “straightforward process” that involved making sure the vendor they used was approved by the city.
“It made perfect sense to take advantage [of the grant] to try to bolster security and do whatever we can to avoid further incidents,” Medeiros said.
The Diamond Center experienced a smash and grab robbery in June 2023, according to owner Ray Lantz, prompting Lantz and his team to hire a full-time security guard and install new protective glass. When the robbers returned six months later, they were unsuccessful.
“Aside from hitting the case a couple times with the hammer, they fled without getting anything,” Lantz said. “Still difficult and traumatic for the team, but a better result and kind of a feeling that the deterrence and the security guard work was useful and effective.”
Lantz said he thought the initiative was necessary in Claremont, but that he didn’t apply given that it covered things he had already implemented.
Lantz said he worries about his business being burglarized every day, and that he’s explored further safety options such as double doors, fire extinguisher placement and has placed emphasis on staff and client safety. The Diamond Center is also a part of the Claremont Business Watch program, so Lantz receives updates when burglaries occur in the community.
Lantz said that jewelry businesses are often targets of robbery, but that he thinks Claremont was very safe overall. While Medeiros has also worked hard to keep Euro Cafe safe, he similarly described Claremont as “a very safe place.” He said that in the past few years, his business hasn’t experienced any burglaries and they’ve all occurred in earlier years instead.
Wand commented on public safety in Claremont, but said her advice was not specific to downtown Claremont.
“I think that people should always be aware of their surroundings, of course, and exercise caution when they’re out in public,” she said.
A recent Claremont Courier article highlighted a significant decline in commercial burglaries across Claremont as of late. Between 2015 and April 2025, there were a total of 832 reported burglaries. After a high of 116 incidents in 2020, only 24 burglaries occurred in 2024. Only six reports have been made so far this year.
Of the 832 commercial burglaries, the most common method of entry was through a front, rear or side door, which was reported in about 59 percent of these incidents. Entries through side or front windows were reported in about 11 percent of total commercial burglaries.
Wand said she was unable to speak to other programs that would address methods of entry other than windows.
“It’s a very individual thing based on location and different factors,” she said.
According to a statement from the Claremont Police Department (CPD) to TSL, extra patrol officers are deployed to commercial districts.
“When students or community members are walking within the downtown Village, we encourage them to walk in groups and remain aware of their surroundings,” the statement read. “If anyone observes suspicious activity or feels unsafe, they are urged to contact the Claremont Police Department immediately.”
According to the statement, the CPD works closely with the City Council and local businesses. They said both shatter-proof glass and security doors and screens can help to mitigate commercial burglary and vandalism. Wand said she anticipates the city will receive more applications for the grant program.
“Based on recent crime trends related to commercial burglaries and vandalism, the City of Claremont and the Police Department believe that the Storefront Business Grant Program will be an effective tool in reducing crime within our business district,” CPD wrote.
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