Vandals squeeze glue into locks of King Street businesses
A sticky situation
By Katy Stech
The Post and Courier
Sales associate Jessica Raymond and manager Josh Morgan (right) wait outside the Steve Madden store on King Street while locksmith Eric Anderson works on the front door. Vandals put glue into the locks of 70 stores on the downtown shopping strip.
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To see the list of vandalized locations, click here. (List provided by Charleston Police Department.)
Groups outside King Street stores early Friday morning weren't waiting for Black Friday sales to start. They were waiting for locksmiths.
Vandals squeezed glue into the front door keyholes of 70 downtown Charleston stores overnight, delaying some business openings and rattling already stressed store managers.
The vandalism didn't deter downtown shoppers, who usually start their bargain-hunting later in the day, but the incident added an unexpected twist to one of the busiest shopping days of the year.
As the downtown commercial district livened during the morning hours, clusters of shut-out sales employees commiserated over losing precious preparation time for the coming
Black Friday crowd. Some managers said they were awaiting overnight instructions from corporate headquarters on things like pricing and display arrangement.
Meanwhile, a handful of locksmiths darted from one storefront to the next. They drilled into the keyholes, leaving a dusting of shiny metal shavings.
While the clerks outside retailers like Juicy Couture, Williams-Sonoma and Steve Madden politely awaited their turn, the owner of M. Dumas and Sons clothier decided to take matters into his own hands.
Shortly before the store's special 6 a.m. opening, eight groups of shoppers had lined up outside the store's entrance, eager to take advantage of its three-hour, 35 percent storewide discount. With the front door lock sealed and business at stake during these tough economic times, owner David Dumas made a critical decision.
"I said there was no way we were going to lose 1 1/2 to two hours of business when we had people waiting to get in," he said, noting that last year's Black Friday was the biggest sales day in the company's 88-year history.
So with Dumas' permission, a sales clerk swung a cinderblock through the glass front door, shattering it.
"We were open for business five minutes later," he said.
Dumas' store was one of the few retailers on King Street that opened early for Black Friday, a somewhat suburban holiday that is typically dominated by large retail chains.
Bleary-eyed downtown boutique employees, in the absence of the harsh fluorescent lighting found in big box stores, usually see business pick up in early afternoon. (It didn't help that the vandals glued the lock on Starbucks Coffee shop, too.)
"They'll come in after they get their electronics fix," said Nora Innis, who manages Affordables, a women's clothing shop. While only a few customers shopped early at the downtown store, Innis said that the chain's West Ashley and Mount Pleasant locations buzzed with bargain hunters.
Activity was even quiet outside the popular Apple Store. About 30 minutes before the store's 9 a.m. opening, West Ashley resident Norm Shea was the only potential customers who peered through its glass window exterior.
Shea, who admitted he was more a Black Friday spectator than shopper, jokingly suggested the overnight vandals were trying to send an anti- capitalism message.
"I feel bad for the businesses, but I think it was kind of clever," he said.
State Rep. Chip Limehouse, R-Charleston, took the vandalism a little more seriously, calling it a "systematic assault" on the local business community.
"This is the time when we all need to be pulling together to make our economy better, and for some person to commit a crime of this nature — this is a lowdown trick," he said.
He added that he'd consider proposing legislation that would toughen penalties for those who commit property damage. Currently, a vandalism conviction is considered a misdemeanor and carries a maximum of five years in prison and possible fine if the amount of damage is between $1,000 and $5,000.
Charleston police public information officer Charles Francis estimated the glue caused several thousand dollars worth of damage. His department is reviewing a handful of surveillance tapes but didn't have any suspects Friday night.
The vandals also damaged at least one downtown home. Rob Concannon, who lives on King Street, came back from walking his dogs Thursday evening to find the lock to his condominium glued shut. He said the incident shows how the downtown commercial district, a gleaming shopping mecca during the day, can become an unsafe, unfriendly place at night.
"There's no police presence out here whatsoever," said Concannon, who owns Trio Club on Calhoun Street. "The police need to do a better job between the homeless guys, the graffiti and now this."
Reach Katy Stech at kstech@postandcourier.com or 937-5549.
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Creeker01 (anonymous) says...
70 locks?
Anti-Capitalism?
Sounds like one of those whack-a-mole C.O'C. groups making another obscure statement, to me.
November 29, 2008 at 1:32 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
bpwnz (anonymous) says...
One of these 70 businesses should have security cameras capable of getting this guys face.
November 29, 2008 at 2:26 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
goodkarmasc (anonymous) says...
No police? No cameras? No security? Sounds like it's highlighting a deeper and more fundamental problem with Charleston's business districts.
There seems to be plenty of police to rid ourselves of the "scurge" of tailgaters at concerts/sporting events and of course those "delinquent" art walk patrons.
Mayor/Council needs to address this before it gets any worse. Having cops waste resources/man hours on silly issues, they can't respond/monitor the REAL issues.
Is it going to take someone getting hurt or our historic city falling onto the same list that North Charleston's on before anyone does anything? How many tourist dollars lost is acceptable?
We don't need a "police state", but we certainly need a police presence.
November 29, 2008 at 2:47 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
CedarPosts (anonymous) says...
Good Karma - You are so right!
The best comment of the moment:
State Rep. Chip Limehouse, R-Charleston, took the vandalism a little more seriously, calling it a "systematic assault" on the local business community.
"This is the time when we all need to be pulling together to make our economy better, and for some person to commit a crime of this nature - this is a lowdown trick," he said. He added that he'd consider proposing legislation ....
Leave it to a politicion to go about trivializin' the momentous and complicatin' the obvious.
Links to photos of the "lock out" at http://cedarposts.blogspot.com
The "attack" gave Charleston national media attention making healines right along with the Toys R Us shoot out and the WalMart stampede.
BRAVO! Charleston!
November 29, 2008 at 3:57 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
theronce (anonymous) says...
Well, Shea, I do not think that "clever" is the right word, try "evil". You're an idiot. Now, all you politicians, don't you think that there are enough laws on the books to cover this already. Of course, there are; the criminals will no more care about another law than the ones that we already have. You're an idiot, too. How hard is it to have a cop ride down the road once or twice and hour.
November 29, 2008 at 7:50 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
justmyview (anonymous) says...
How can all that damage be done without one witness?
November 29, 2008 at 7:54 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Neponset (anonymous) says...
Police presence is the key, both on King street and in suburbia. Perhaps we should go back to the methods of an earlier time, ie put the cops on the beat and get rid of the two ton cars they ride around in. This would be a win-win solution, both in cost and greater attention to the purpose for being there.
November 29, 2008 at 8:19 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ndv (anonymous) says...
consumption = citizenship, ha ha ha
November 29, 2008 at 8:28 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
moonpie (anonymous) says...
I agree with "theronce", please God don't create another feel good, knee jerk law!
We have laws on the books and should they be enforced they will be suffice. IE, SC immigration law, IE, fire sprinklers...
November 29, 2008 at 8:29 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
sethook (anonymous) says...
It appears that, based on Chip's logic, no laws were broken so what's all the fuss about. Just someone out for a little mischief who couldn't find a cow to tip over or an outhouse to attack.
November 29, 2008 at 8:56 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
moephishwater (anonymous) says...
I think if the criminal is male, fair punishment would be to superglue his tiny vienna sausage to his coin purse.
November 29, 2008 at 9:02 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
CedarPosts (anonymous) says...
OK for the slow people out there, you know who you are .... or maybe you don't know who you are.... here's MY guess as to what happened.
A couple of white college of Charleston Kids are just "window shopping" during the turkey run on Thanksgiving day, in broad daylight.
You have a ton of people, all looking in widows, a bright sunny day so everyone has on sunglasses, and are all wearing sweats, hodies and the like. So you have lots of traffic and all the stores are closed.
Two maybe more, might even be in teams, a look out and the gluer, or is that glueee? No more than 2 seconds max and it's done, five mins and its "locktite". You could have been in the store and not even notice the attack.
It's all too neat, very well planned and the timing perfect.
In fact it is so well done that the perps may brag about it and word will get around.
Unless it was a loner or someone very very intent on causing such a disturbance.
November 29, 2008 at 9:18 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
n4dhs (anonymous) says...
i know where the cops are - they are standing across the street from the coast guard on lockwood with a radar gun giving speeding tickets....
November 29, 2008 at 9:23 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
nappyd (anonymous) says...
Breaking through a store window for some sales? Really? Was that really worth it? Odds are probably not. There are better ways to handle that.
Then again, can't spell Dumbass without Dumas.
November 29, 2008 at 9:29 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
CedarPosts (anonymous) says...
n4dhs - sssssshhhh don't tell anyone you know they think they are invisible. Bad Cop No Donut!
November 29, 2008 at 9:35 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Tulane75 (anonymous) says...
The cost of the door at Dumas is a legitimate item for restitution. It was not a bad move.
November 29, 2008 at 10:14 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
tc1 (anonymous) says...
Wonder how many average Joe's that have jobs at these business, pay taxes and are paid hourly lost Christmas income because the store couldn't open? But it is good to see the mean old business owner suffer from this "prank". Makes you feel good that Only the business suffered right? Some child may have missed out on that special toy that only could be had at black Friday prices if at all. But, thats ok because only the business suffered right? Those that got up at 2AM to be there for the opening got to gloat and feel good because they were there before the sun rose and got to see the managements frustration at this Harmless prank, RIGHT?
Disclaimer: All idiots need look up definition of "sarcasm"
November 29, 2008 at 10:25 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
yird (anonymous) says...
Jim I Slander can't find enough ways to detract from the inadequacies of his beloved Joe Riley and the rest of the Demagogues buy injecting politics into the mix.
Turnabouts fair play.
Truth be known, these morons who rediscovered a very old 'get even technique" are probably "liberal arts" students(read Obama worshipers)at the CoC doing their small part to institute "change".
The Mayor and his cronies will be laying out plans(seeking votes) to see that nothing like this never happens again in our fair city,blah, blah, blah,!
Too bad the Navy has no large presence here, easy to blame them. Drunken sailors and so forth.
November 29, 2008 at 10:36 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
zoomru (anonymous) says...
Chip Limehouse....come ON ??!!
You can't help but step in it !!?? Judging from the POSTS already; can YOU imagine the OUTRAGE when these business OWNERS and citizens find OUT how much TAX REVENUE would be generated from their TRASH if a PLASMA Converter from www.startech.net was installed to CLOSE Bees Ferry Landfill??
Watch this Chip....
http://laskyfilms.com/startech/movies...
What does it cost these businesses for trash pickup??
Chip ALL YOU should have said was that OUR Local Police have your full support in getting the culprits ..!!
We do NOT need more LAWS...!!
November 29, 2008 at 10:44 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
chucktonian (anonymous) says...
The answer to this and all of the Lowcountry's ills is simple: double the size of the jail and start arresting people. And putting them away. For a long time.
What you tolerate will happen!
November 29, 2008 at 10:45 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
B_Fwank (anonymous) says...
JimIslander
"Why would you think that? You think Obama supporters don't shop?"
Sure they do, they just went shopping in Long Island, and trampled a man to death!
November 29, 2008 at 10:58 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
B_Fwank (anonymous) says...
Just so we are clear Jimbo, you asked if yird doesnt think obama supporters go shopping, I said sure they do, they just went shopping in Long Island, and trampled a man to death!
Based on the fact that Long Island is in NY, and NY was carried by obama!
November 29, 2008 at 11:02 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
socialstar22 (anonymous) says...
probably easy for Rob Concannon to criticize the police force while he sits in his ivory tower downtown, considering there are much more important. things to patrol downtown than be a watchdog for some overpriced business run by snobby douchebags. And to Limehouse, another d-bag, yeah lets go ahead and try to pass some "tough" law which will only take a few years to pass since you and all your cronies up in Columbia can't seem to do anything on time or up to date. Most of the retailers downtown deserve something like this anyway. The only people I feel sorry for are the employees who had to wait around. THIS IS CAPITAL
November 29, 2008 at 12:19 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
yird (anonymous) says...
When Dumas opted to smash glass on the door at his store he took one heck of a risk. The Obamaites hearing the sound of broken glass in a retail area consider that a clarion call to loot.
Maybe they no longer see the need to steal what they want since Obama is going to give them everything.
God is Great!
November 29, 2008 at 12:49 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
geekguy2008 (anonymous) says...
Looks like someone from one of those Locksmith companies might have done this....you know, to drum up some business.
November 29, 2008 at 12:50 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
onesidedsquare (anonymous) says...
i think this is a record, Jim I slander posted twice with out a racist comment, what is this world coming to!?
this "prank" or "attack" to your perspective, is just ridiculous, i really hope they find who did this,
and the business owners, breaking into your own store? that is just make a bigger mess out of it, did no one just have a drill on them to pop the locks?
November 29, 2008 at 12:51 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jeffmiller (anonymous) says...
Spot on n4dhs.
Charleston does have a huge police presence. it's just that they're too busy picking on the easy target of motorists giving them tickets for doing a few miles an hour of the limit (which i then see cop cars do all the time) rather than actually preventing crime / vandalism like this.
>
Posted by n4dhs
i know where the cops are - they are standing across the street from the coast guard on lockwood with a radar gun giving speeding tickets....
November 29, 2008 at 12:52 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
yird (anonymous) says...
socialstar22; Praise capitalism. In the utopian world of socialism it's considered fortunate just to have a store let alone anything in it of value.
November 29, 2008 at 12:53 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
bpwnz (anonymous) says...
Did none of the businesses have back doors?
November 29, 2008 at 1:15 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
n4dhs (anonymous) says...
yea i almost got a ticket there the other week....just another one of the new police chiefs great ideas....
November 29, 2008 at 1:39 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
tc1 (anonymous) says...
yird,
Must be something in them or why would they each have a line out front 24/7? Except of course the tourist only stores.
November 29, 2008 at 1:53 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ltgrunt (anonymous) says...
There's virtually no information to go on to assign blame or understand motivation. It's insane and wholly irrational the way some of you demonize and vilify this or that various group, laying blame with no reason or evidence whatsoever. How is it that people have become so crazy with this "us vs. them" mentality, cultural isolationism and pathetic, simple-minded hatred?
What we know is that someone or several someones vandalized several stores. We don't know who did it or why. Making up stupid theories about who did it and why is pointless, as is denouncing whatever group or organization you don't like for some asinine reason.
November 29, 2008 at 2:22 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
CedarPosts (anonymous) says...
Plain as day who did it, and how. Only a matter of time before someone talks and the reward money offered by the VCB and King Joe will speed things up pretty fast.
Anyone want to wager?
November 29, 2008 at 3:30 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
yird (anonymous) says...
tc1; Must be something in them or why would they each have a line out front 24/7?
==========================================================
Of course, they want to be there if and when the government brings in a few baskets of bread.
November 29, 2008 at 4:47 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
skeeter (anonymous) says...
I'm with bpwnz.
I can't believe that none of these businesses have back doors. That's the stupidest crap I've ever heard!
November 29, 2008 at 5:44 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
justjerry (anonymous) says...
They might have been able to get in through a back door but most of those are probably into a stockroom or delivery area. That would probably not be the safest route to send your customers through since that is not what those areas are set up for.
One thing that I have not been able to tell is whether or not there was a pattern to the vandals choices. Were they mainly local retailers? Restaurants? Were they all right next to each other or were some places skipped? Etc? Etc?
November 29, 2008 at 6:05 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
CedarPosts (anonymous) says...
Security is a big issue on the back doors. Most biz have steel doors with steel bars top and bottom. There is no way to open the back doors except from inside.
If in fact it was superglue acetone would fee the tumbler up but it would take sometime to work.
November 29, 2008 at 8:07 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
TomW (anonymous) says...
Did the Charleston PD ever get funding for the new security cameras that were supposed to be put up around the downtown area? This incident is a good argument for them.
November 29, 2008 at 9:22 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
squirt16oz (anonymous) says...
One or two or three businesses being hit like this is vandalism, but 70? That's a criminal act, probably perpetrated by someone with an interest in closing down all those businesses that represent direct competition. And as far as Mr. Shea "..more a Black Friday spectator than shopper, jokingly suggested the overnight vandals were trying to send an anti- capitalism message. "I feel bad for the businesses, but I think it was kind of clever," he said. What kind of upside down and backwards logic and thinking is this? He needs to try to put the shoe on the other foot and think about how he'd feel if it were his business!! Clever? Not even close...arrogant, fleppant, criminal, miscreant all describe the act/s much better!!!
November 29, 2008 at 11:22 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Tulane75 (anonymous) says...
I am not getting the essence of Yird's posts. Is she saying that >50% of the Charleston County electorate are looters? Where does this come from?
I recognize yird's need to say something mean, but this vandalism has no political component that I can see.
November 30, 2008 at 12:21 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
yird (anonymous) says...
Tulane75;You recognize nothing. Read some of the other posts by left wing whack jobs.
I'm just applying a bit of reciprocity.
November 30, 2008 at 12:34 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
CNN_10 (anonymous) says...
Why is everyone bring up Barack Obama name in everything involving Charleston that he does not clearly have anything to do with period???? He did not tell these morons to go out and superglue business around town at all. As for the CPD and COFC public safety at ??? this sound to me to be strange considering that people walk up and down King Street every night. Something is not right about this period.
November 30, 2008 at 1:18 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
socialstar22 (anonymous) says...
yird; You must be thinking of communism. '__________' But hey the way our materialistic society is run is so beautiful. applaud....... and to anyone bringing up Obama in any of these comments deserves to have their lips super glued shut.
November 30, 2008 at 4:02 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
yird (anonymous) says...
socialstar22; Socialism, communism,the difference is merely one of semantics.
November 30, 2008 at 5:50 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
socialstar22 (anonymous) says...
then you obviously know only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to these two social spectrums.
November 30, 2008 at 6:22 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
yird (anonymous) says...
socialstar22, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, once known to be a communist nation.
Go back to school.
November 30, 2008 at 7:44 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
IronWoman (anonymous) says...
Norm Shea saying "I feel bad for the businesses, but I think it was kind of clever,", must be a total idiot, and whomever gave the approval to print that line is equally as stupid. Give praise to the vandals,... yeah, that will discourage them from doing it again, ...or something worse.
November 30, 2008 at 9:38 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
socialstar22 (anonymous) says...
hahahaha once again, the tip of the iceberg, because you rip the world socialist from USSR and, though you are correct, it was communist, does not mean that they are the same thing. So before you storm in with another useless post on this go back to wikipedia or wherever you are gaining knowledge and know that there is a difference between the two.
December 1, 2008 at 12:36 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
yird (anonymous) says...
socialstar22; I have never bothered to waste my time on wikipedia concerning this subject.
I have read numerous books on socialism/communism over the past 40 or so years and know what I'm "talking" about.
You can continue daydreaming about your Utopian Workers Paradise and when you finally awaken you may want to expose yourself to reality.
You might want to read the communist manifesto by Marx and then a real enlightening book would be The Law by French economist Frederic Bastiat.
I suggest starting by looking up socialism in a dictionary that was written prior to the era of political correctness. Some time before 1960
Socialstar22,is socialism the star you've attached yourself (metaphorically)to? Might 22 be your age?
If so, it explains much about your naivete.
December 2, 2008 at 12:07 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
IronWoman (anonymous) says...
To all of you who turn a vandalism article into a platform to discuss Obama and communism: PLEASE GO AWAY. GET A LIFE. FIND SOMETHING TO DO WITH YOUR TIME. MAKE A SANDWICH. ANYTHING. JUST STOP TYPING.
December 2, 2008 at 11:26 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
yird (anonymous) says...
IronWoman;You can always just rust away if you don't like the posts on this thread.
Your fanaticism will not be missed.
December 2, 2008 at 12:01 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
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