Surveillance cameras will be installed at the Arnold Farmers Market in an attempt to prevent future thefts and vandalism there.
In August, items were stolen from a shed and graffiti was spray-painted at the market, which is on Bradley Beach Road near the entrance to Arnold City Park.
City Administrator Bryan Richison said that prompted city officials to look into having security cameras installed there.
“We have invested quite a bit in the area, and the Farmers Market is a big draw,” he said. “We want to make sure we don’t have this situation again where we have to scramble to clean something up the morning of a Farmers Market.”
This year the market was open from 8 a.m. to noon every Saturday from April 29 through Nov. 11. Special events will be held at the market throughout the winter.
City Council members voted 7-0 on Nov. 2 to pay $23,367.68 to Huffman Security Co. in Arnold for the cameras and the installation. Ward 3 Councilman Mark Hood was absent from the meeting.
Deion Christopher, Arnold’s information technology manager, said the city expects the cameras to be installed by Dec. 1.
When the Farmers Market shed was burglarized overnight between Aug. 25 and Aug. 26, a wagon, sound system, picnic umbrella, cleaning supplies and a U.S. and Missouri flag were stolen. Altogether those items were valued at $990, Arnold Police reported.
Also during that incident, lime green spray paint was used to write racial slurs and the word, “cash,” on the market’s walkway and main pavilion’s patio, the report said.
The shed door and door frame were damaged, and the cost to repair the shed was estimated at $200. It also cost about $100 to clean the graffiti, according to the report.
“It never occurred to us that someone would do something like this,” Richison said. “The stuff that was stolen out of the shed had some value, but we didn’t feel anything in there was that expensive. It is kind of baffling (someone would break into the shed).
“Also, (the market) is not that far off Jeffco and is pretty visible. We had some graffiti problems in the park, but that was on the trails, far away from people and in areas that are not very visible. We thought this was an area that wouldn’t have risk, but it turns out we were wrong.”