Vandalism Costs More Than Aesthetics
The staff at the Walkersville Pharmacy arrived at work earlier this week to find the Coke machine in front of the pharmacy on its side and its power cord ripped out of the wall. This was the second time in about a month. A previous machine was bolted to the ground after vandals kept damaging the machine.
The machine is owned by Coca-Cola, who told the pharmacy that the machine will probably not be replaced. “They can’t afford to keep fixing and replacing machines,” a pharmacy employee explained. Over the past fifteen years, the pharmacy has tried to keep the machine from being vandalized. This week’s event may have been the last, because there won’t be a machine.
“Lots of customers and kids walking home from school use the machine,” staff explained.
“My kids know its there when they have some change and want a soda,” a customer outside said while shaking his head.
The Walkersville Pharmacy is not alone in being victimized by vandals in Walkersville. Even the local Glade Valley Community Services has fallen victim. Someone spray painted the word “God” with an arrow pointing to the door of the organization’s donation box on West Pennsylvania Avenue.
The vacant gas station, bank, fast food restaurant, and many store fronts owned by Tomarchio Enterprises at MD 194 and Glade Boulevard constantly show the signs of vandals. The company regularly receives notices from the Town’s Code Enforcement Officer about the graffiti. Every so often, the company sends someone to paint over the mess, but often it is the Boy Scouts of America who clean up the gas station property for their Christmas Tree Sale. Vulgar language and drawings on the windows of the decades vacant first floor units of the shopping center remain visible after more than a year of neglect.
The vandalism, mostly in the form of graffiti, extends to Walkersville’s parks and tot-lots owned by local home owners’ associations.
The costs of the vandalism includes more than cleaning up or repairing the mess. A Coke machine used by the community may be gone. Visitors and prospective home buyers lose interest in the area. Local pride in a beautiful home town diminishes. “More than aesthetics are being effected in Walkersville,” a man walking his dog by the Walkersville Pharmacy said.
The Town of Walkersville will be hosting a public forum on crime in the town on September 9, 2015.
