July 4. Vandalism upsets business owner
DOWNTOWN BUSINESS owner John Heighington is upset with the amount of vandalism going on.
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Updated: July 04, 2009 6:24 AM
HAVE SOME RESPECT.
Those words come from John Heighington, owner of Spotless Cleaners, as he stands outside his business on Emerson St. watching three men replace the broken window in his building.
It's the biggest window and the only one not shattered by vandals until now.
“This is an attack on my livelihood,” he says.
“These people are attacking my lifestyle, my livelihood. They are not thinking. There's no respect. These people just have no character.”
Heighington resents having to pay for “reckless, malicious thoughtless acts” done by irresponsible individuals out of his own pocket but says insurance isn't an option.
Insurance companies may give a small business owner a break and not increase the cost after one smashed window, and maybe for two windows, but when breakage keeps repeatedly happening, the insurance company is likely to raise the cost, or refuse to insure altogether, he says.
Small business owners have to cover the cost of vandalism and often close down because they can't deal with the constant drain to their pocketbooks, he says.
Replacing his window will cost $1,000 or maybe more, he says.
“Glass is not cheap,” says Heighington.
The police foot patrol makes its rounds in the downtown area but they need to be present at random times, says Heighington.
If the police walk around at the same time every day, the crooks and vandals are going to commit their crimes at different times, he says.
“They have to take a random walk around,” he says, adding the police did call him as soon as his broken window was discovered.
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