Crime frightens, angers small business owner - WALB.com, Albany News, Weather, Sports

Crime frightens, angers small business owner

  • More WALB News10 HeadlinesMore News Headlines

  • Friday, May 24 2013 9:30 AM EDT2013-05-24 13:30:13 GMT
    Information from GA Pundit- Fort Stewart and Hunter Army Airfield soldiers began Memorial Day observances Thursday. Several Gold Star Families - who like the Bookers have lost a family member to conflict
    Fort Stewart and Hunter Army Airfield soldiers began Memorial Day observances Thursday. In 2013, Georgia lost 26 armed services members who gave their lives for us and their names were read in the State Capitol as part of our observance of Memorial Day.

  • Friday, May 24 2013 9:01 AM EDT2013-05-24 13:01:21 GMT
    LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. (AP) - Legal woes are piling up for the leader of Georgia's Democratic Party. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports (http://bit.ly/199UTSo) that a lawsuit filed in Gwinnett County
    A lawsuit filed in Gwinnett County this week accuses Mike Berlon of failing to distribute nearly $1 million from a trust he created for a friend and his son.

  • Thursday, May 23 2013 11:45 PM EDT2013-05-24 03:45:38 GMT
    A Cordele man is out of jail tonight, accused of stealing thousands of dollars worth of jewelry from his former employer. Crisp County Investigators say 25-year-old James Aultman stole more than $10,000
    A Cordele man is out of jail tonight, accused of stealing thousands of dollars worth of jewelry from his former employer.
    •   

November 29, 2005

Dougherty County -- It's not only people living in Albany terrified by crime. Small businesses say they are scared, too.

One East Albany business owner says thieves are hitting them every night, threatening to shut them down.

Owners of Albany Housing Center and Albany Auto on Sylvester Road say thefts have gotten so bad at their business, they are scared.

"It's terrible. I don't even like to stay here alone after dark, because so much of it is going on," Owner Troi Tucker said.

Thieves are breaking into their mobile homes, and stripping them. Tucker said "They come in and remove all the copper around the compressor of our air conditioning units, and they just leave me a mess like this."

The aluminum siding on one home was ripped off this week, to be sold for scrap. Many of their homes show the same destruction. The thieves are even cutting the wiring out of the walls. Eight heating units have been stolen in the last weeks.

Tucker said "But they come in here and remove the whole unit, so that costs another $700 or $800 to replace that portion of the home."

For a small business owner, these thefts could drive them out of business. "It's hard enough to get a business going, and then when people come in and steal from you, it makes it hard to recuperate after that."

Their cars are even being stolen, from right out in front. Tucker said "They busted this window out and pried this open, and then busted the steering column to try to steal it." They didn't get away with it. "No, not this one, but the same night they got an El Camino that we had out here."

Tucker said they call the Police, but by the time they get there the thieves are gone. So now they have to guard their business all night. Tucker said "The Police aren't going to do anything about it, so we've decided we are going to have to step in and handle it."

Tucker and her family and workers will stand guard at their business night and day, fighting to keep thieves from ruining them.

The Tuckers have owned Albany Housing Center for three years, but they say the thieves have gotten much bolder in recent weeks.

Feedback: news@walb.com?subject=SmallBizCrime