JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Mandarin Athletic Association is trying to figure out who is responsible for breaking into and stealing from its concession stand.
Surveillance video shows three people inside the concession stand at Greenland Park with flashlights looking for things to take, then stealing hundreds of dollars in food and drinks, prying open two cash registers and rolling the safe out on a cart.
"It's mostly just sickening. It really breaks my heart to see somebody come in here and go through everything like fine-tooth," said Kent Dumont, MAA vice president. "They knew where things were and that's heartbreaking, too. It's obviously somebody that might have been in here before."
Mandarin Athletic Association President Wes Benwick said he thinks a gate is part of what led to the concession stand being burglarized. The gate closes, but he said according to city policy, it can't be locked overnight.
"Watching (the video) just disgusts me," Benwick said. "As a parent, it makes me sick to think that this is someone else's kids."
Benwick had cameras installed but said he never thought they would be needed to catch criminals. He said the association's parents have worked hard to make the association a big part of the community. They will now have to plan extra fundraisers and look for additional sponsors to make up the cost of what was stolen.
Benwick said the incident also casts a bad light on the park.
"Now parents who know about this have to wonder, 'Is this a safe park for my kids?'" Benwick said. "I believe this is a safe park for the kids. I really do believe this is an isolated incident, but I want to get to the bottom of it, and I want to find out who's responsible for it."
"We are going to up the security around here, and it's unfortunate," Dumont said. "It's an added expense that we didn't budget for."
Benwick said the association manages the city-owned park and is responsible for items in the concession stand. He said he has already been in touch with the city about trying to find a solution to the city's policy about leaving the gate unlocked.
"This policy doesn't make sense for the city," Benwick said. "It costs the city. It cost the kids, and it cost the association. No one wins here."
Anyone who recognizes someone in the surveillance video is asked to call the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office at 904-630-0500 or email JSOCrimeTips@jaxsheriff.org. To remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at 1-866-845-TIPS.