According to the Asheville Police Department, in 2022, the department responded to 41 break-ins. For the first month of 2023, officers have already had 11 reports of break-ins. That is a 200+ monthly increase.
Chris Faber, the owner of The Times Bar, had his business targeted twice within just a few days of each break-in. Faber told Fox News, “The first time, he stole about $700 or $800 in cash and about 10 or so bottles of whiskey or alcohol.” “He took our dirty rag hamper and dumped all the rags on the ground and then used that to load up booze.” Faber also shared information that security footage showed the same suspect breaking into the business next to his.
“It’s wildly frustrating, and mostly for me, it’s frustrating because I’m not comfortable leaving my bar by itself when it happens that frequently.” “We just don’t know what to do as a preventative measure other than what we’re already doing.”
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February 08, 2023
On January 18, bar owner Chuckie McKelvey’s business, The Asheville Yacht Club, was targeted. The incident was captured on surveillance video as the suspect stole the cash register with a whopping $7 in quarters in it, plus he stole a bottle of Jack Daniels. McKelvey said, “I feel like we’re all suffering the problem, but none of us really have a great solution.” “Of course, if more police presence were there, that would be a helpful deterrent. But I understand that that’s just not an option right now.” McKelvey added, “It’s a very violating feeling.” “You just feel like you’re not safe, and you’re waiting for it to happen again.”
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Robert Crume, a senior police officer with the Asheville Police Department, said, “Some business owners have declined to even report break-ins.” “They just report the loss to their insurance and move on. They’ve become so frustrated with the situation.”
February 08, 2023
The latest incident involved the break-in of two restaurants on January 28.
Chief David Zack of the Asheville Police Department told Fox News Digital over 100 sworn officers had left the force since May 2020. The loss of personnel has the police force struggling to maintain a presence while “operating at almost 42 percent down every single day.”
Other law enforcement sources told Fox News Digital that part of the blame for officers leaving the force is due to department leadership being undermined by left-wing activists and liberal city leadership.
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