Break-in at city shop

GARFIELD -- Numerous items were stolen from the city shop building.

Upon arriving at work early March 19, city employee Mickey Kelley found the exterior door to the city shop building open. He found the interior office door broken open, according to a Benton County Sheriff's Office report.

Items taken include a Stihl chainsaw, weed eater, sawzall, cordless drill and chlorine tester.

Mayor Gary Blackburn said the break-in happened in two stages with the outside door to the shop either opened with a key or picked because there was no sign of forced entry.

"We're confident it won't happen again," Blackburn said. "We're taking other security measures that we believe will enhance our ability to monitor the spot. We're trying to get our lighting in the city to the place it should be."

Blackburn said there was vandalism to the bell in front of school just a day or two after the city shop building break-in and he said he's talking with officials at Carroll Electric to see what can be done about improving lighting in the city.