Thieves break into businesses ... again
By Gary Popp
Published in News on August 30, 2011 1:46 PM
Full Size
News-Argus/MICHAEL K. DAKOTA
Larry Lawrence, owner of For Women Only, and Chris Lawrence cover a hole in the wall with plastic following a break-in. This is the second time the gym has been broken into, the intruders breaking through the wall to get into Sherwin-Williams.
For Women Only, a health club located at 2523 E. Ash St., has been broken into for a second time in six weeks.
The suspects appeared to have re-enacted the vandalism of the first break-in, which occurred July 20, when, once inside, the vandals use the workout center's barbells to knock a large hole in the same section of wall to gain access into the adjacent Sherwin-Williams paint store.
The break-in took place between 9:30 p.m. Sunday and 5 a.m. Monday.
For Women Only member coordinator Stephanie Jakubowski spent Monday morning cleaning up chunks of drywall and the large shards of a mirror that was on the wall in the area where the vandals broke through.
"It was more shocking the first time that we were broken into, but now, we are wondering what they are after," Ms. Jakubowski said.
It appears the suspects entered through For Women Only, as pry marks were left on the front doors.
Police say the suspects might have made their exit through Sherwin-Williams, since the back door was found open by employees of the paint store Monday morning.
Sherwin-Williams employees said the suspects attempted to open a safe and a cash register. A ladder was also used to unscrew the overhead lights that stay on during the night.
For Women Only was forced to turn away members for most of Monday, but Ms. Jakubowski said evening classes were likely to go on as scheduled.
"People are so surprised that is happened again," she said.