Series of Burglaries Frustrate North Charleston Businesses
NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. – An escalating series of robberies targeting businesses situated within the Dorchester Industrial Park has left business owners exasperated and seeking justice. The latest victim, Coastal Utilities located on Franchise Street, was invaded this week, marking the second time the business has been the subject of burglary this year. As of yet, no arrests have been made.
Burglars Targeting High-Priced Equipment
The perpetrators seem primarily interested in valuable construction equipment like trailers and heavy machinery. In the latest incident, culprits gained unauthorized access to Coastal’s premises on Wednesday, between 3 a.m. and 5 a.m., either by pulling or ramming down the business’s sliding gate. The damage inflicted upon the gate alone is expected to cost the company approximately $3,000 to repair.
Upon gaining access, the offenders made off with a flat trailer, a dump trailer, and a Kubota 59 Backhoe, collectively valued at an estimated $114,000, as per the incident report.
Stolen Equipment Partially Recovered
In an unexpected turn of events, the manager of Coastal Utilities recovered one of the stolen trailers on Thursday. The trailer was found parked with a group of other trailers, located just a short distance away from the robbed establishment. Despite the recovered item, the business is still suffering from the loss of crucial equipment and a damaged fence. Having been previously burglarized in March, and with no arrests made, the business owners are urging for action.
Coastal Utilities’ manager, identified only as Stacy, has discussed potential security measures with the local police. “I asked the officer about putting a dummy car out like you sometimes see, and he said it was possible but made no promises,” Stacy said. He expressed the need for more frequent patrol in the area, as most incidents seem to occur between 2:00 and 5:00 in the morning.
Rising Crime Impacting Local Businesses
It’s not just Coastal Utilities that is feeling the impacts of the escalating crime. KWS Motor Sports, another business situated within the Dorchester Industrial Park, owned by Kevin Hunt, was burglarized a few years ago. Hunt is concerned about the growing trend of burglaries. “It’s hurting us financially, and it’s going to drive up the cost for the end user. Whether it’s his product or mine, the prices are going up,” Hunt lamented.
The increase in crime rate is necessitating local businesses to enhance their security measures. Hunt detailed, “We want to keep the cost of business down as much as we can, so everyone here is intensifying security measures. Be it upgraded camera systems or improved on-site security, several steps are being implemented.”
Police Investigation Ongoing
The North Charleston Police Department has confirmed that the investigation into the recent burglary is ongoing. In response to the aggravated business owners, the police department has placed the area on special patrol request. This implies their officers will be more frequently patrolling the area in the foreseeable future.
In these challenging times, local businesses are hopeful for swift justice and are taking steps to enhance the safety of their premises. The rising trend of burglaries underscores the need for a more aggressive security strategy to protect businesses and their valuable assets.
