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ENLARGE
Kim Lamb/Photo illustration
Some local business owners have increased security at their establishments after a number of break ins and thefts.
Concerned business owners around Fallon have stepped up their security in hopes of slowing down a string of burglaries in recent weeks.
Awareness from Red Zinnia owner Susan Henderson has increased after her store was victimized twice in 10 days in October. Her store was broken into Oct. 15 where more than $5,000 worth of inventory was stolen.
The second incident saw a loss of about $200, but Henderson had taken steps to ensure it wouldn't happen again. Before the first burglary, Henderson had motion detectors and lights outside, but after the crime, she added an alarm system.
Henderson said she feels people in Fallon don't realize the crime problem has developed into what it has currently.
“There's so many people in this town that feel it's the way it was awhile ago, and we're finding out it's not,” Henderson said. “I blogged about it awhile ago and the response has been amazing.”
Henderson received calls about her blog from various people expressing the same concerns as she.
Awareness from Red Zinnia owner Susan Henderson has increased after her store was victimized twice in 10 days in October. Her store was broken into Oct. 15 where more than $5,000 worth of inventory was stolen.
The second incident saw a loss of about $200, but Henderson had taken steps to ensure it wouldn't happen again. Before the first burglary, Henderson had motion detectors and lights outside, but after the crime, she added an alarm system.
Henderson said she feels people in Fallon don't realize the crime problem has developed into what it has currently.
“There's so many people in this town that feel it's the way it was awhile ago, and we're finding out it's not,” Henderson said. “I blogged about it awhile ago and the response has been amazing.”
Henderson received calls about her blog from various people expressing the same concerns as she.
However, incidents around town didn't stop as Heck's Meat and Gems by Joyce were targeted on Nov. 8 and Espresso de Café was broken into on Nov. 6.
In all, at least eight businesses and one place of worship, the Seventh Day Adventist Church, have been violated during the past two months.
Heck's owner Richard Duffney said the burglars stole a laptop, digital camera, butcher knife and hunting knife. The hunting knife was the biggest loss for Duffney because it was given to him from a friend when he was 12 years old.
A bank bag with about $150 was left in Duffney's office, but the burglars drank soda and turned on the radio instead of taking the money.
“They just destroyed the office,” Duffney said. “One of them must have played with one of the knives because they cut themselves.”
At Espresso de Café, the burglary on Nov. 5 netted $94, but the burglars damaged a granita machine valued at $4,000 and dumped syrup on the floor. It took four hours for the employees to clean up, and the store had to close.
Manager Jamie Johnson said the criminals came in through a small window, which is usually open at night to ventilate the granita machine.
The café had an alarm but never activated it because of the proximity of Safeway and a construction crew. Now the alarm is activated, and the doors are locked at closing time.
“I have one employee. It took her a little while to calm down from it,” Johnson said. “It kind of shook her up.”
However, the crime hasn't been limited to burglaries.
Victor Sanchez, owner of La Fiesta Mexican Restaurant, and Mike Gallardo walked out of the restaurant on Aug. 31 and were allegedly mugged by Curtis Brady Jr., Devin Jim and another unidentified man. Sanchez said the men asked for change, but when the two friends said they didn't have any, they were attacked.
One of the assailants grabbed Gallardo and held a knife to his throat. Sanchez said the other two men assaulted him, while he struggled on the ground.
Sanchez said Gallardo, who had been cut twice on his neck, took matters into his own hands. Gallardo, fearing he was about to be killed, slammed the armed man into the wall of Colonial Bank, and the knife sliced the hand of the attacker.
Gallardo then picked up the knife, and the men fled the scene before the police arrived.
“I can't believe things like that happen here in Fallon,” Sanchez said. “I warned my family not to go to downtown right now because too many things are happening.
“We all have to work together. We need more cops around, I guess. I don't feel safe anymore, and I've been here for 12 years.”
Police arrested Brady Jr., and Jim, but the third man was still at large.
Fallon police Chief Kevin Gehman said there are a couple leads the police are following but recommended secure locks and good lighting.
According to Gehman, the police have stepped up their patrols and talk to anyone they see as a way to create a strong presence.
Gehman also said business owners should do a walk-around on their own to find any weaknesses. He added people are encouraged to call the police and have officers conduct a security sweep of the business.
“If they have any questions, we would be glad to do a security sweep for them,” Gehman said.
In a small community where most people know each other, it's hard for Sanchez, Henderson, Johnson and Duffney to wrap their hands around the recent crime spree.
Henderson said she doesn't know or understand the reasons for the sudden spike in crime. She said it could range from the recession to the methamphetamine problem in Fallon, while Duffney said it may be teenagers acting out.
Sanchez said he would like the business owners in downtown to ask the city for more lights to be installed in the alleyways to help prevent crime.
“It's really hard to attribute it to any one thing,” Gehman said. “Until we catch them, we really won't know for sure.”
In all, at least eight businesses and one place of worship, the Seventh Day Adventist Church, have been violated during the past two months.
Heck's owner Richard Duffney said the burglars stole a laptop, digital camera, butcher knife and hunting knife. The hunting knife was the biggest loss for Duffney because it was given to him from a friend when he was 12 years old.
A bank bag with about $150 was left in Duffney's office, but the burglars drank soda and turned on the radio instead of taking the money.
“They just destroyed the office,” Duffney said. “One of them must have played with one of the knives because they cut themselves.”
At Espresso de Café, the burglary on Nov. 5 netted $94, but the burglars damaged a granita machine valued at $4,000 and dumped syrup on the floor. It took four hours for the employees to clean up, and the store had to close.
Manager Jamie Johnson said the criminals came in through a small window, which is usually open at night to ventilate the granita machine.
The café had an alarm but never activated it because of the proximity of Safeway and a construction crew. Now the alarm is activated, and the doors are locked at closing time.
“I have one employee. It took her a little while to calm down from it,” Johnson said. “It kind of shook her up.”
However, the crime hasn't been limited to burglaries.
Victor Sanchez, owner of La Fiesta Mexican Restaurant, and Mike Gallardo walked out of the restaurant on Aug. 31 and were allegedly mugged by Curtis Brady Jr., Devin Jim and another unidentified man. Sanchez said the men asked for change, but when the two friends said they didn't have any, they were attacked.
One of the assailants grabbed Gallardo and held a knife to his throat. Sanchez said the other two men assaulted him, while he struggled on the ground.
Sanchez said Gallardo, who had been cut twice on his neck, took matters into his own hands. Gallardo, fearing he was about to be killed, slammed the armed man into the wall of Colonial Bank, and the knife sliced the hand of the attacker.
Gallardo then picked up the knife, and the men fled the scene before the police arrived.
“I can't believe things like that happen here in Fallon,” Sanchez said. “I warned my family not to go to downtown right now because too many things are happening.
“We all have to work together. We need more cops around, I guess. I don't feel safe anymore, and I've been here for 12 years.”
Police arrested Brady Jr., and Jim, but the third man was still at large.
Fallon police Chief Kevin Gehman said there are a couple leads the police are following but recommended secure locks and good lighting.
According to Gehman, the police have stepped up their patrols and talk to anyone they see as a way to create a strong presence.
Gehman also said business owners should do a walk-around on their own to find any weaknesses. He added people are encouraged to call the police and have officers conduct a security sweep of the business.
“If they have any questions, we would be glad to do a security sweep for them,” Gehman said.
In a small community where most people know each other, it's hard for Sanchez, Henderson, Johnson and Duffney to wrap their hands around the recent crime spree.
Henderson said she doesn't know or understand the reasons for the sudden spike in crime. She said it could range from the recession to the methamphetamine problem in Fallon, while Duffney said it may be teenagers acting out.
Sanchez said he would like the business owners in downtown to ask the city for more lights to be installed in the alleyways to help prevent crime.
“It's really hard to attribute it to any one thing,” Gehman said. “Until we catch them, we really won't know for sure.”
Need to know
Anyone with information regarding the recent break-ins, contact the Fallon Police Department at (775) 423-2111.To read Henderson's blog, log onto www.flowertreenursery.blogspot.com http://www.flowertreenursery.blogspot.com
