HAYESVILLE — A thief didn’t steal much money, but he took something invaluable from the 442 people who call the village home.
Ashland County Sheriff’s Office detectives are working to identify a suspect responsible for a rash of break-ins in the village that has left its residents with a wounded sense of security.
“To say I feel violated is such an understatement right now,” said Margie Yeater.
Yeater owns Brew’d, one of the four businesses burglarized between midnight and 2 a.m. on March 18.
Detective Josh Duewel said the suspect broke into the village mayor’s office, the post office, Amvets Post 1969 and Brew’d coffee shop.
ACSO did not have any suspects as of Friday afternoon. ACSO Secretary Denise Patterson released video surveillance that detectives hope will lead to the suspect’s identification.
The suspect is believed to be a man who wore a gray hoodie, gloves and jeans. He kept his face hidden by dark cloth. Duewel said he used a pry bar to break in to cash registers, safes, an ATM and filing cabinets.
Those with information are encouraged to call 419-289-3911.
The detective confirmed the man stole some money but didn’t give a specific amount.
‘He was after money’
Robin Beasely, the village’s mayor, said her office was ransacked.
“He was after money,” she said, adding the burglar broke the front door’s window pane to gain entry. “But we don’t keep money in the mayor’s office. There’s never any money.”
Beasley said he went through filing cabinets. If any were locked, he used a pry bar to get inside.
“He threw everything around,” she said.
He ransacked a safe, which is typically kept unlocked. She said its contents — titles for trucks and other documents — were all over the floor. He also rummaged through boxes in the supply room, she said.
Yeater, the owner of Brew’d, said the man went through the store’s cupboards and a cash register. When he forced the register open and found pennies, he threw them on the floor, she said.
“We keep no money in the shop,” she said. “And the funny thing is, he threw a Michael Kors purse on the floor. I guess he didn’t know they’re very expensive.”
Not about the money
In all, Beasley said the burglar caused up to $3,000 in damage to two filing cabinets and two desks at the village’s office.
The window pane on the door, fortunately, was bound to be fixed using grant money, the mayor said.
Yeater said there wasn’t much property damage in her shop, if any at all. The Amvets closed Monday night because of the burglary.
But both Beasley and Yeater characterized the string of burglaries as a violation of the village’s sense of security.
“We as a community are very close, small,” Yeater said. “We watch out for one another.
“When something like this happens, you feel so violated and so, like, mad that this is even happening. You hear about it happening in other places. You never think it’s going to happen to you.”
The mayor said village officials are considering placing cameras around the village.
“We have a lot of nervous people,” she said.