Second round of break-ins hit businesses

Within the last 30 days, eight downtown businesses in Hills?boro have been burglarized sometime after closing and prior to opening.

The first four break-ins were in mid to late October involving businesses on the west side of Main Street.

In the most recent burglaries, three of the four occurred on the east side of Main Street with the fourth on Ash Street.

?I am confident we will solve these (burglaries), but it will take a little more time,? Police Chief Dan Kinning said Tuesday.

Jost Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning at 128 N. Main, State Farm Insurance at 114 N. Main and Breymyer & Wise Attorneys at Law at 120 N. Main were broken into sometime between Saturday night and Sunday, Nov. 15-16, Kinning said.

The fourth incident at The Lumberyard Inc., 101 N. Ash, happened sometime after 3 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 16.

Probably the most damage and cash taken was reported at The Lumberyard with more than $100 in damage done and about $135 in cash stolen.

In two other burglaries, no money or merchandise was stolen, but damage was done to the buildings.

?Nothing was taken at the State Farm office,? Kinning said, but there was damage to the back door.?

The same was true at Jost Plumbing. Nothing was taken, he said, but an estimated $200 to $300 in damage was done to the back door.

The law office had no damage to the building, but a small amount of cash, $10, was taken.

In the first four burglaries, Kinning said, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation lab in Topeka is assisting with some of the evidence recovered.

The first rash of burglaries included La Cabana Mexican Restaurant, Molly?s On Main, Brenda?s Bloomers and Gifts and Dale?s Supermarket.

?It?s been many years since we have had a string of break-ins like these,? he said.

Although Kinning is pursuing suspects, any help from the public would be beneficial.

?If anyone saw or heard anything?even if someone thinks it?s only a small detail?please call,? he said.

In the first few burglaries, Kinning said, someone had heard a little bit and that provided police with some important information.

?People might be surprised with what might tip us off (to a suspect),? he said.

To report any information about the burglaries or other suspicious activities, call 947-3440.

More from Hillsboro Free Press
Engagements (Week of July 25, 2007)
Mueller, Stoll plan Sept. 8 wedding Ashley Renee Mueller of Assaria and...
Read More