Paul’s produce hit by weekend burglary

A local merchant discovered his business was burglarized sometime during the holiday weekend.

According to Paul Pinkston, the proprietor of Paul’s Farm Fresh Produce Market on Potosi Street, the intruders enter the business somewhere between closing on Friday and 9 a.m. on Sunday.

“I was getting ready to go to church when I decided to stop at the store for a bottle of water,” Pinkston said. “I noticed there were things on my table, some of my wood carving tools were out, and the exhaust fan for the back window was standing on its side next to the window.”

As Pinkston began to look around, he believe entry was gained through a window well concealed from the street and the his neighbor’s yard.

The store was not otherwise damaged.

“When they came through the window the set the fan neatly to the side,” he said. “They didn’t vandalize anything in the store, which they could have easily done. They even locked the doors behind them as they left each room.

Since Pinkston doesn’t keep cash on the premises, the thieves were only able to get off with change from the register, which didn’t alarm Pinkston.

“But what was really sad is they stole the ‘Feed the Hungry’ jar I had on my counter,” he said. “It probably had 30 pounds of loose change in it.”

“The only thing besides the money that they took was an old bike I had in my office,” Pinkston said, adding it was later found behind the building.

The Farmington Police Department is still investigating the incident.

As Pinkston tries to make sense of the whole situation, he does think something positive can come from this incident. He hopes it makes people realize that there are a lot of people in our community who are in need.

“Monday, when I came over here, and I looked around and tried to understand what had happened,” Pinkston said. “I can understand people being hungry, but I don’t understand the rhyme or reason to take money (intended for a charity). It’s like taking money from the offertory plate at church.”

Since there was no damage to his establishment, he is back open for business. And, it probably won’t be too long before a new jar is back on the counter.

Paul’s Farm Fresh Produce Market’s on Potosi Street was burglarized this past weekend.  Owner Paul Pinkston said although the thieves did not get a way with very much money, he was disheartened when the thieves took the donation jar intended for helping provide food to those in need.

Craig Vaughn is a reporter with the Farmington Press and can be reached at 573-756-8927 or cvaughn@farmingtonpressonline.com