While it resembles the handiwork of Ernest T. Bass from “The Andy Griffith Show,” a recent rock-throwing and break-in spree is no laughing matter among businesses that have been victimized.
The good news is that Mount Airy police might be close to arresting a suspect, Chief Dale Watson said Wednesday.
The incidents have occurred over a period of several days at multiple buildings in the West Pine Street (N.C. 89) area, including the Pastelicious bakery and Dance Works Studio located in adjacent suites in the 900 block.
Another nearby business targeted was Essence Nail and Spa on West Independence Boulevard, with the same tactic also employed at a downtown business, Sarah’s Beauty Boutique on Moore Avenue.
Rather than a simple act of vandalism as Ernest T. might have perpetrated, theft seems to be the main motive behind the breaking-and-entering crimes that collectively have involved the loss of an undisclosed sum of money.
The incidents began at the end of last week, and have continued into this week.
“This is the third day,” Charice Bender, operator of Dance Works Studio, reported on Tuesday via the Facebook Internet site. “Dance Works, the pastry place and several other buildings on (N.C.) 89 are being vandalized.”
Chief Watson said Wednesday that several vehicles in that general vicinity also have been damaged.
“There is likelihood that they’re all linked,” he said of the rock-throwing acts occurring in different parts of town, although the focal point was in the West Pine Street area.
• Two separate incidents were reported at Pastelicious, one that was discovered on Friday and the other on Sunday. In both, a rock was thrown through the glass front door to gain entry, with the damage listed at $300 on both reports. In the first incident, an undisclosed sum of cash was stolen. While nothing was listed as missing from the second break-in, additional damage of $80 was reported to a metal patio chair that apparently was used in an attempt to break in.
• The crime at Dance Works was discovered Tuesday, which also involved a rock being used to break the front door glass, causing damage estimated at $200. No actual entry of the building occurred, and nothing was listed as missing.
• Property damage put at $500 was discovered Saturday at Essence Nails and Spa on West Independence Boulevard, where a rock was thrown through the sliding panel of a drive-through window.
• The Sarah’s Beauty Boutique incident was discovered Saturday, which involved a rock being thrown through a glass door, causing $100 in damage, enabling entry and the theft of an undisclosed sum of cash.
Arrest could come soon
Business operators’ frustration over the crimes was evident in Bender’s Facebook posting regarding the one at Dance Works.
“Please keep an eye out for the dumb stupid soul who is doing this,” she stated. “Mount Airy police are looking for them. Spread the word, and get this info. out.”
Such efforts apparently are producing results.
“The investigating is progressing well,” Chief Watson said Wednesday.
“We have a person of interest we are attempting to locate right now,” he added.
“At this point in time, we believe only one individual was involved.”
Meanwhile, Mark Bender, husband of Charice Bender, said Wednesday that the incidents have prompted them to pursue extra security measures at the suites they own on West Pine Street.
“We’re going to be hanging security cameras all over the place,” he said.
