'There's a lot of great people out there': Calgary motorcycle school overwhelmed by support after break-ins - Action News
Home WebMail Thursday, November 14, 2024, 02:56 AM | Calgary | 6.0°C | Regions Advertise Login | Our platform is in maintenance mode. Some URLs may not be available. |
Calgary

'There's a lot of great people out there': Calgary motorcycle school overwhelmed by support after break-ins

A popular Calgary motorcycle school is increasing security after thieves targeted its trailers twice in the past week, taking items and causing damage.

Thieves targeted the school twice in the past week

Trevor Dech with Too Cool Motorcycle School says what started as a negative has turned into a big positive, bringing a tight-knit community even closer together. (Dan McGarvey/CBC)

A popular Calgary motorcycle school isincreasingsecurity after thieves targeted its trailers twice in the past week, taking items and causing damage.

But its owner says he refuses to focus on the negatives.

Too Cool Motorcycle School runs out of four trailers situated in a lot at McMahon Stadium, with dozens of different types of motorbikes and equipment stored there.

The first break-in happened on Aug. 31, when thieves forced their way into trailers, tampering with fuel tanks and stealing items,including keys to motorbikes.

They struck again on Sept. 2, again damagingtrailers in the process of trying to gain entry.

Damage to a door on one of the trailers at Too School Motorcyle School in Calgary. (Dan McGarvey/CBC)

Inside the trailers, thewalls are plastered with hundreds of faded photos of all of thestudents Trevor Dech hasshared the joy of motorcycling withover the years. It's his passion.

And it's the overwhelming support Dechhas received from those same students since the break-insthat he is now choosing to focus on, rather than being a victim.

"All the people and their comments," said an emotionalDech, pausing to compose himself.

He's talking about being inundated with offers of help and support from friends and many former students who heard about the break-ins on social media.

Some students who passed through his school many years agostill have a soft spot forthe place where they learned to ride and the man who taught them the skills they needed.

One former student set up a GoFundMe page to help Dech out, which has since raised more than $2,000.

Trevor Dech with Too School Motorcycle School gets one of his Honda motorbikes ready for lessons in a lot at McMahon Stadium. Dech says he wont let thieves who targeted his business this past week get him down. (Dan McGarvey/CBC)

"There's a lot of great people out there andthere's a few bad butthey make the really nice people even better," he said.

"Whoever did it, we're going to keep going. You made me better, you made our school better, it just unites this community even more."

Dech says he found it hard to teach this week following the break-ins but has been blown away by the support.

"It affects us because this is our home," said Rene Despins, a longtime senior instructor at Too Cool.

"It's fascinating how supportive and tight this community really is, and we are lucky."

Dech says he has nowbeefed up security on and aroundhis trailers and McMahon Stadium's security say they will be stepping up patrols in the lot, as well.