Crimes signal alert to Waldo businesses

Some early morning crimes last weekend left Waldo merchants with damaged property and stolen merchandise or money.

One More Cup, a coffee house at 7408 Wornall Road, incurred a broken window and stolen money, and outdoor potted plants and trees were stolen from Hathaway Shoes, 7401 Wornall Road.

“This is the first time for us,” Stacy Neff, One More Cup owner, said. “It certainly wasn’t a pleasant wake up call.”

Neff, who opened One More Cup in February, said she realized that something like this might happen as a business owner.

“You hope it doesn’t,” she said.

Neff said her alarm sounded at 3:30 a.m. Saturday, July 11. She opened on time for customers that morning.

“Customers were supportive,” she said. “It was nice to feel love and support from the community.”

Neff said she already has improved the visibility of her windows and doors and is rethinking where she keeps things in the store.

Jill Hathaway, owner of Hathaway Shoes, said this is the second theft during the four years at her Waldo location. She said the store had been burglarized just over a year ago.

“It was bad,” she said. “They took a lot, $50,000 of computers and merchandise.”

Hathaway said the intruders used a crow bar on her metal doors in the back of the building, pried the alarm off the front and cut all the wiring. She said police told her it was a ring.

“They were professionals,” she said.

When her expensive potted plants and trees were stolen from the back of her building July 9 or 10, Hathaway said she was shocked.

“I thought, ‘Here we go again, one more crime in Waldo,’ which is frustrating,” she said.

Hathaway said the best precaution is for Marti Lee, Waldo Area Business Association executive director, to alert all businesses and retailers.

“We’re trying to work with businesses on crime prevention tips,” Lee said. “We’re working with the police as well.”

Lee said the association’s goal is to help make Waldo a livable community.

“It is to work with businesses and area neighborhood associations to promote, market and make Waldo a great place to live, work and do business,” Lee said.

Lee advises area business to leave their lights on at night, post signs stating no “cash left on premises,” leave cash registers open and visible, and report any suspicious behavior or people immediately by calling 911.

“We work so hard to be positive,” Lee said.

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