WEST MELBOURNE, Fla. – Someone at West Melbourne Community Park is breaking the windows of a snack bar and boutique that raises money for the disabled.
The non-profit said $20,000 that could have benefited people with special needs will now have to go toward repairs and security.
“When this vandalism started, initially, I thought it was something that was kind of innocent,” Promise in Brevard President Jeff Kiel said. “And then, it just continued to wrap around the building.”
Promise in Brevard houses more than 100 people with disabilities and recently put $100,000 into its store at the park called Ave’s Place.
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Kiel showed the damage to News 6 reporter James Sparvero.
“This is commitment to breaking windows,” he said. “We’re talking about glass, hurricane-impact windows. That’s pretty tenacious.”
While Kiel believes someone may be targeting the building in-between the park’s playground, skatepark, and splash pad, police believe the damage could be random.
Lori Acevedo brought her children to the playground Friday.
“It’s horrible,” she said. “We should be able to see and enjoy and feel safe, especially with the families here.”
Kiel asked anyone with information about what happened to call police or the store.
“Whenever we have to spend a dollar fixing windows or doors, that’s a dollar we take away from supporting people with disabilities,” he said. “So anybody knows anything, get together with the city of West Melbourne police department or call us because we want it to stop.”
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