Downtown business owners on alert after vandalism spree

By Breyana Segura - Chief Staff Writer | September 1, 2022

“Committed to doing our best to deter criminal behavior,”

Business owners in downtown Pearsall have been complaining for months about a sharp uptick in vandalism and broken windows.
According to local barber shop owner, Blas Trevino, the storefront window to his business has been broken twice within the span of a couple of months.
Just across the street sits a flower shop that has been subject to property damage three times within the past month. The owner, Rita Nieto, has reported broken windows, damaged flower pots and trash being scattered from her trash can.
One block down the road a popular eatery, loan company and the old City Hall building are dealing with window smashing by late night vandals.
Just last month the offices of The Frio-Nueces Current were vandalized three times in two weeks; two of those times in broad daylight.
“The police department is committed to doing our very best to deter criminal behavior,” Pearsall Police Chief Daniel Flores said in an email Monday evening. “Patrol officers are tasked with safeguarding over 6.5 square miles and over 11,000 residents. Although we would like to be everywhere at once, most times we cannot.”
Flores says between answering calls for service, report writing, conducting traffic stops, patrolling main streets and neighborhoods, that officers are doing their very best to provide an equal level of service for the entire community.
The police chief noted officers are routinely performing security checks of businesses and residences in the community.
“We have utilized our in-car computer system to generate a slip to notify area businesses and residences that their properties were patrolled,” Flores said. “These security checks are performed at random or at the request of citizens.”
The department is reporting that they are vigilant and have made numerous arrests of suspects, some being arrested on multiple occasions for criminal mischief.
Flores is encouraging the community to report any suspicious activity to the appropriate authorities.
Business owners are encouraged to install security surveillance cameras and keep their businesses well-lit in an effort to deter crime.
“Alarms are also another key component to ensure a swift response when no one is around to report suspicious activity,” the police chief said. “As a small department a watchful community is our biggest asset. Additional eyes and ears to report criminal activity are a policeman’s greatest tool in the fight against evil.”