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Vandals make mess inside Menards store
Published 2/5/2013 in Local News
Hundreds of gallons of paint spilled on concrete floor.BY ANGIE HAFLICH
ahaflich@gctelegram.com
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Becky Malewitz/Telegram A view of some of destruction inside the Garden City Menards construction site at 1110 Lareu Road. Officers of the Garden City Police Department were dispatched Sunday morning to Menards in reference to damage to the property. The suspect(s) then used two forklifts to spill 86 five gallon and 11 one gallon containers of industrial paint throughout the store. Approximately 25,000 square feet of the concrete flooring was damaged during the incident. The two forklifts and internal furnishings were also damaged. An exact estimate of the damage is unknown and could range between $30,000 and $300,000.
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Becky Malewitz/Telegram A worker on the Menards construction site walks out the front doors with a broom over his shoulder after helping clean up some of the vandalism at the store.
Garden City police are trying to determine who was responsible for the extensive vandalism over the weekend at the Menards construction site.
According to the Garden City Police Department, officers responded to Menards, 1110 Lareu Road, at about 8:58 a.m. Sunday in response to a report about damage at the property.
The initial investigation determined someone entered the business through an unlocked door between 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 8 a.m. Sunday. According to police, the unknown suspect(s) used two forklifts to spill 86 five-gallon and 11 one-gallon containers of industrial paint throughout the store, damaging about 25,000 square feet of concrete flooring.
Wayne Frasier, Superintendent of McConnell Excavating, Oberlin, Ohio, said that concrete crews discovered the damage and that while the doors were unlocked, it appeared that the suspect(s) actually pushed open a locked door that was off its hinges. He said the door was undamaged.
Frasier said that it also appeared that the suspect(s) struck two columns supporting the roof with one of the forklifts and that this could have caused the roof to collapse.
One forklift sustained damage to one of the forks and cage and the other had paint covering the front end but the seat was clean, which Frasier said indicated that the driver possibly got paint all over him or her.
Some of the paint spilled onto the floor was an extremely thick, dark outdoor paint called Pithane, which Frasier said is difficult to clean off.
"It's not something they're going to wash off or be able to get out of their shoes real easily, especially that black stuff there because that stays gooey forever," he said.
In addition to the forklifts, Frasier said, it appeared the suspect(s) drove a scrubber/sweeper through the paint, but that the machine itself didn't sustain any damages.
Internal furnishings, including overhead lights, also were damaged.
According to police, the suspect(s) also lit cardboard boxes on fire inside the building.
According to police, an exact estimate of the damage is unknown and could range between $30,000 and $300,000, depending on whether the paint can be removed from the concrete. Frasier said they won't have an exact damage estimate until the estimator and structural engineer perform inspections.
"The estimator is coming in, but if they have to replace the two columns, that will be $100,000. If they have to replace the floor, that will be another probably $100,000. If they don't and we can clean it all up and get a lot of this out of there, then we're home free. It's just a lot of hours it's going to take," he said.
Frasier said that his company's portion of the job was supposed to be completed Feb. 15, and if the columns and concrete have to be replaced, extra manpower and extra hours will be required in order to stay on schedule.
"Let's put it this way. Menards doesn't get delayed. They'll find a way. They'll bring people in if they have to. Right now, starting tomorrow, the temps that I have will be working until we get it all cleaned up, so if they have to work around the clock, they will," Frasier said, adding that he expects clean up to take until at least Friday.
Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to contact the Garden City Police Department at 276-1300. Anyone who wishes to remain anonymous can contact Crime Stoppers at 275-7807, or text GCTIP with tip information to 847411 (tip411).
Found 8 comment(s)!
Reply
Devin, as I said, I am "pleasantly surprised" at the arrests of these delinquents. "… don't be unfaithful in the police for no reason..." What does that mean? I really don’t know how to respond to such gibberish. unfaithful? in the police? I am concluding from your grammar and phrasing that you are either a student or graduate of GCHS.
Posted by: Rachael on 2/7/2013
Reply
Rachel, they've already arrested the kids so don't be unfaithful in the police for no reason...
Posted by: Devin on 2/7/2013
Reply Reply
Hey, I'll be surprised if the culprits are from out of town. It's just as likely that it is a bunch of hooligans from across the street at GCCC. Garden City has enough hometown terrorists to be represented in this Welcome Wagon project. We do not need to look out of town for good suspects. I'll be pleasantly surprised if ANYONE is arrested for this anyway.
Posted by: Rachael on 2/6/2013
Reply
Who else will not be surprised if the people who get arrested are either from Dodge and are trying to sabotage this, or have an East Garden Village address? I know I wont be!
Posted by: GCResident on 2/6/2013
MENARDS
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: WHO EVER DID THE DESTRUCTION NEEDS TO MAN TO THE CRIME AND PREPARE TO DO THE TIME! WHO EVER DID THIS REALLY MAKES GARDEN CITY LOOK LIKE AN UNATTRACTIVE PLACE TO COME. I CAN ONLY HOPE THAT YOU ARE OF AGE FOR SERIOUS PENALTY.
Posted by: CHAD TURNER on 2/5/2013
And this is why
we can't have nice things ... D-bag wannabes.
Posted by: Sigh on 2/5/2013
Welcome
Menards: Welcome to Garden City.
Posted by: Rachael on 2/5/2013
Unblievable
It is just unbelievable that someone would even think to do something like this. I do hope they are caught and made to answer for this.
Posted by: J M on 2/5/2013