Jul 4, 2008 6:16 pm US/Eastern
Business Hit By Third Smash & Grab In Annapolis
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (WJZ) ―
An Annapolis business isn't celebrating this 4th of July after three break-ins at their shop. That business is on busy Main Street in the state capital.
Suzanne Collins reports the owners are fed up.
Main Street, Annapolis is a high rent district with a lot of exclusive shops and big tourist trade. But one shop owner is asking why they've been the victims of crime three times.
The smash and grabs started just before Christmas at Embassy Eyewear on Main Street. Thousands of designer sunglasses like Coach and Gucci were snatched.
"Five days later we get another phone call. It happened again, and so then we go. Everything is taken out of the window, glass is everywhere. Of course they have no idea, and we offered a reward," said Colleen Shields, Embassy Eyewear.
On Friday, George and Colleen Shields planned to remain closed and take their kids to a parade. But they were once again called by police because a brick had sailed through the shop window.
"It's upsetting. It makes me want to camp out here at nighttime and find out who is doing this, who is breaking in," said George Shields.
The Shields say they did what police said after the first two break-ins. They installed glass, took expensive items out of the window and also put in an alarm system.
The burglar grabbed empty Fendi cases this time, but it still upset the owners.
Next door at Lawrence Clothing, expensive stacks of shirts are not left near the window at night.
"We've all had to make changes because we no longer can display things the way we'd like. You can't put really nice things in the window for instance because it is a high risk of them. I've had my windows broken out too, nine times over the last six, seven years," said Larry Vincent, owner of Lawrence Clothing.
A police corporal says there's a downtown foot patrolman. In May, an agreement was reached with the Department of General Services officers to extend their patrols from the statehouse to Main Street.
"Certainly we will put a frequent check out on the area. I've talked to DGS this morning. They're going to ask if nighttime officers can increase patrols in that particular area," said Corporal Jennifer Crews-Carey, Annapolis Police.
"I'd like them to get drug addicts off of Main Street. I'd like to get them to have cameras on Main Street. I think the drug problem is a lot of the problem," said Colleen Shields.
Police say since October there have been just four broken out windows on Main Street, including this latest incident.
Police say there are some cameras downtown, but they were unable to check the exact location or see if the latest smash and grab was captured on tape because of the holiday.
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