By Christin Coyne
Lone Star News Group
Continuing work on the National Vietnam War Museum was dealt a blow this week after two break-ins damaged the future temporary visitors center and lawn equipment and other tools were taken from a locked shed on site.
Between $1,500 and $1,800 worth of lawnmowers, weed trimmers and tools were stolen from a small shed, groundskeeper and head of maintenance Gary Salisbury estimated.
Though the burglars were unable to enter the visitor’s center, damage to the door, window and wall is estimated at least $1,400, according to project manager Jim Vines.
“We didn’t think anybody would come out to a site like this [to damage and steal property],” Vines said. “Now we’re forced to put up surveillance cameras.”
The first attempted break-in took place Sunday night, according to Vines.
They arrived Monday morning to work and found rocks thrown through a window and a door on the south side of the visitor’s center.
The double-paned sliding glass door was smashed and two doors had been propped for use as a ramp against the side of the building to reach the doorway several feet off the ground, but a locking bar on the inside prevented entry, according to Vines.
Another rock went through a window and lodged in the opposite wall.
They will now be replacing the double-paned glass with a more durable and costly plexiglass to prevent further incidents, Vines said.
Construction in and outside the 2,600-square-foot visitor’s center — which will serve as a gallery for museum exhibits, a gift shop area, and office space for the museum — is nearing completion. The building was the former headquarters of the Secret Service at George W. Bush’s Crawford Ranch, according to Vines.
When Vines and Salisbury returned to the museum site Thursday morning, they found the burglars had been successful in an attempt to break into the shed overnight where the groundskeeping equipment is stored.
The lock was snapped, the door pried open and the shed cleaned out except for a few shovels and other small items.
A riding lawnmower was among the items stolen, Salisbury said.
They are now installing surveillance cameras in addition to other preventative measures, according to Vines.
“Like one employee said, ‘people even steal from a church,’” Vines said.
“Crimes like these ones are senseless,” Parker County Sheriff Larry Fowler said. “The very act of committing a crime, on territory designated to honor our veterans, is lower than low. I can think of nothing more disrespectful toward our service men and women, especially those who gave the ultimate sacrifice.”
“Our full attention and resources are devoted to catching those responsible. Anyone with information pertaining to these crimes is urged to call the Parker County Sheriff’s Office and speak to our investigators immediately,” Fowler said.
The Parker County Sheriff’s Office phone number is (817) 594-8845.
Those who provide a tip via Parker County Crimestoppers that results in an arrest may be eligible for a reward up to $1,000. Callers may remain anonymous. Parker County Crimestoppers can be reached at (817) 599-5555.
A replica of the Vietnam Memorial Wall was unveiled in May and drew visitors from around the nation. Planning for the $25 million National Vietnam War Museum project began in 1998 and the site currently houses a meditation garden, a “Huey” helicopter and a replica of the Camp Holloway Memorial Wall. The opening of the temporary visitor’s center is scheduled for later this year, according to the museum’s Web site.
Any donations to help replace the stolen items or fix the damage is appreciated, according to the Vines. The museum can be reached at (940) 664-3918 or online at www.nationalvnwarmuseum.org
