Thieves smash through doors steal drinks

Thieves made off with about $500 worth of liquor and related products from WatersView Restaurant at Dockside after using a somewhat conventional method to break into the store.

They drove through the front door. Actually, the thieves did not drive into the restaurant, but they used a motor vehicle to crash in the door to gain access, according to Warren County Sheriff Johnny Williams.

The sheriff said one of his deputies responded to the business’ alarm around 1 a.m. Sunday and found the doors crashed in, with no sign of the folks who broke into the restaurant to be seen.

“The damage to the restaurant was about $1,500 and they took about $500 worth of assort liquor,” he said.

While some local people have said there seems to be a crime spree involving businesses in that area, Williams said he doesn’t see that. In addition to the break-in at Watersview, he said there was an after-hours burglary from the ABC store around Dec. 29, and an armed robbery several months ago at Andy’s Steakhouse. Otherwise, the sheriff said he’s not aware of any additional problems at the businesses in the area.

He said the county is looking to put a satellite office in the region, however, one that the county can use and his office can work from. He said county officials have spoken with the owners of Dockside, but those talks did not progress and the county is looking elsewhere.