On Tuesday, May 27, Petty’s Tire and Service Center in Whitesboro reported a break-in during which several items were stolen.
Workers discovered that at some point between 5:30 p.m. Monday and 7:30 a.m. Tuesday, someone had removed a window air conditioning unit from the business’s office and gained access to the building.
Patrol Officer Nortman with the Whitesboro Police Department responded to the call and it was determined that around $3,000 worth of tools was stolen.
In addition to Milwaukee batteries, Milwaukee impact, car parts and a Matco speaker, a customer’s car was stolen from the parking lot. The vehicle, a black 2016 Ford Expedition (plates beginning with MLR) is still missing.
The Whitesboro Police are currently working on locating the missing vehicle, in hopes that if they can find the car, they can find the perpetrator. The investigation is currently open and active.
Just a couple of days later, between the evening of Thursday, May 29 and the morning of Saturday, May 31, the Whitesboro Riding Club grounds and buildings (located at 35 Noland
Road in Whitesboro) were broken into with many items being stolen or damaged.
After a workday on Saturday, one of the club members entered the concession stand for a drink. She noticed the window was open, which seemed strange. Then it occurred to her that there had been an air conditioning unit in that window, which was now missing.
The more they looked around, club members discovered that all of their buildings had been broken into: the concession stand, announcer stand and bull pen (a pull-behind RV building they used for bulk storage).
“The gates were locked,” club Treasurer McKenzie Sheppard said. “Whoever it was must have either come up from the creek line or carried everything out on foot. They didn’t come in through our main driveway.”
The Grayson County Sheriff’s Office (GCSO) took a report, located evidence and launched an investigation.
“We’re still going through all of the missing items,” Sheppard said. “They left our banners and signs, but anything of value that could be sold they took. They took our PA system, which was locked in a box in our announcer stand. It was also really heavy, so it must have taken at least two people to carry it away. They took our A/C units, some entry rugs…They also vandalized our bull pen building so badly that we’re going to have to tear it down because it’s now a safety hazard.”
Despite this setback, the Whitesboro Riding Club is focusing on preparing for their upcoming annual July 4th Rodeo, the organization’s biggest fundraiser of the year.
“We have no choice,” Sheppard said. “The rodeo is coming whether we’re ready or not.”
Luckily, the rodeo announcer brings his own PA system and the club has already begun replacing things for the concession stand. The club has also implemented some new safety measures to prevent this kind of event from happening in the future and to keep their club members safe.
Though the club does carry insurance, through a combination of deductibles, timing and the fact that some of the stolen items had originally been donated, it was determined that the club would not benefit from filing a claim for the stolen items and damages.
“The best way to support the Whitesboro Riding Club right now is to come to the rodeo in July,” Sheppard said. “Buy tickets from our Royalty girls; bring your families; help spread the word. This event is really what helps fund our organization.”
The annual July 4th Rodeo will be held July 3, 4 and 5. The grounds open at 6 p.m. and the rodeo begins at 7:30 p.m. each night. Thursday and Friday end with a fireworks show while Saturday ends with a dance at the pavilion at 9:30 p.m.
Tickets can be purchased from Rodeo Royalty, in person at Dennards or online at www.whitesbororidingclub.org/royalty
While these two local break-ins seem to be isolated incidents, Whitesboro Police Chief Kevin Dockery says it’s not uncommon to see an uptick in criminal activity during the summer months. He suggests citizens take the proper precautions to protect their belongings.
“Make sure things are locked up and there’s no easy way into your buildings,” he said. “If you can invest in a security camera, that can make a big difference.”
Source: Freepik.com