JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Some businesses in San Marco spent Wednesday morning cleaning up after a vandal used rocks to bust out windows at several businesses overnight.
Workers trying to open for business arrived to find windows smashed at Firehouse Subs, Maple Street Biscuit Company, Grape & Grain Exchange, Town Hall, HeyDay!, Peterbrooke Chocolatier, Underwoods Jewelers, Sherwin Williams, Missy Riley Art & Pieces and Bank of America.
Total cost of the damage: $29,590. The only thing reported stolen: Five bags of chips and a bottled drink from Firehouse Subs valued at $15.
“First time it’s ever happened to me, in 40 years," said Missy Riley Art & Pieces Owner Scott Riley. "We had a bunch of product here, nothing taken. It’s more of a pain because we have to clean up.”
The only clue police had Wednesday afternoon was a surveillance photo of what appeared to be the snack burglar. The photo shows a man wearing a black hoodie and red shorts helping himself to some chips.
Police were called to Maple Street Biscuit Company, 2004 San Marco Blvd., at about 5:15 a.m., a police incident report states.
"The complainant advised that when she arrived to work this morning, she observed a smashed-out window to the business," the report states. "The complainant advised that she believed that the unknown suspect used rocks to shatter the windows."
The officer reported seeing "smooth, gray-colored rocks inside and outside the business," the report states.
At about 5:45 a.m., police were called to Firehouse Subs after an employee reported that their window was smashed out and chips and a drink were stolen.
Police did not state what kind of chips were stolen or the flavor of the beverage.
"Like, why would you do this," said Katherine Gundelfinger, who lives in San Marco. "It doesn’t make any sense. I hope they find the person and this doesn’t happen again. It’s sad. It just makes me sad.”
Anyone with information on the vandalism or burglary is asked to call police at 904-630-0500.
