Surveillance equipment stolen from vacant building

Rick Monroe

Special to Village News

The theft of surveillance equipment from the former McDonald's building on South Main Street has resulted in a large "CASH REWARD" sign on the fence the thief used to climb to gain access to the property.

Charlie Snowder, owner of MVW General Contractors, said the theft occurred the evening of Monday, Oct. 11. His alarm went off saying the security equipment was off-line, but he said he assumed it was a loss of power. The next morning when he returned, he realized a thief took a recorder, camera, DVR system and other equipment.

Snowder is offering a $500 reward for the return of equipment, no questions asked. There is also a $1,000 reward available for the arrest and conviction of the person responsible. The phone number on the sign is 760-535-8823.

"It looks like the person or persons climbed over the fence using buckets," Snowder said. "The McDonald's building had no doors, making it easy for the thief."

The contractor said the renovated building on the property will be for retail office spaces.

Snowder reported the incident to the Sheriff's Department. Detective Ronald Bushnell said there are no working leads but that he is waiting to hear back from the video recording company that monitors the videos produced by the equipment.

The property is located across the street from Grocery Outlet, Kahoots and Dollar Tree. The former McDonald's building is being renovated as a new office complex.