Burglary reported at Chamber office
Director: Break-in happened hours before Casino Night but auction items are safe.
Smithville police are investigating a burglary at the Chamber of Commerce’s office on Main Street reported to have happened overnight Saturday, the chamber’s executive director told the Smithville Times.
April Daniels, who has worked at the Chamber of Commerce for four years, said police called her at 3 a.m. Saturday to inform her of the break-in. One of the building’s front windows was broken. The city’s visitor center is operated out of the chamber’s office.
Daniels said some items were taken, but she did not specify what was stolen or its value, as police are still investigating.
“I can’t understand why someone would break into a visitor center,” Daniels said. “It’s very disconcerting.”
“As far as I know, nothing like this has ever happened in this building. ... No one can remember it ever happening.”
The break-in happened hours before the Chamber of Commerce held its 22nd annual Casino Night, an event that raises funds to pay for fall events sponsored by the chamber. Residents and businesses had donated items for a silent auction that took place during Casino Night, and Daniels said the items were no longer in the chamber’s office at the time of the burglary.
“We had moved everything already down to the rec center on Friday during the day, so there really wasn’t anything in here for them to steal much,” she said. “We don’t keep very many valuables here, so I don’t really know why anyone would break into a place like this.”
Daniels said there’s been an uptick in car break-ins in Smithville but “I guess somebody just decided to be bold and break into the building.”
On July 26, the Bastrop County sheriff ’s office reported a spike in car burglaries throughout the county. Officials said many suspects got into vehicles through unlocked doors.
A person suspected of burglarizing a vehicle in the River Crossing subdivision in Cedar Creek was caught on a home security camera July 23. The sheriff ’s office has asked for the public’s help in identifying and locating the suspect.
Despite the increase in car burglaries in the county and the break-in at the Chamber’s office, Daniels said Smithville is a safe community and “these are very rare occurrences.”
“The police were right on top of it and are doing a fantastic job of investigating,” Daniels said.
“I don’t want people to be worried that we’re having a big crime spree running around Smithville. I guess things just happen sometimes, and we’re going to put some more security in place to make sure this doesn’t happen again,” she said.