Cape transfer station hit twice by burglars

Cape Girardeau's transfer station was the target of burglars for the second time in 10 days early Tuesday morning, but -- unlike on New Year's Eve -- they didn't get away with any cash this time.

That's because the city's Public Works Department, which oversees the garbage gobbling facility at 2500 S. Sprigg St., stopped keeping the small amount of cash on site after about $100 was taken during the first burglary.

"Since that's happened, we've installed a safe here at Public Works," assistant director Steve Cook said. "No money is left down there anymore. Hopefully, they'll stay away. There's not any money there to get anymore."

The facility did keep about $100 in a cash drawer before the first burglary, Cook said, for startup operations each day. The transfer station charges a fee for residents who want to dump trash there.

No major damage was done, although a latch was broken so the burglar or burglars could come into a window, he said.

The first burglary took place at 2:45 a.m. Dec. 31, according to Cape Girardeau Police Department spokesman Darin Hickey. In that incident, police responded to an alarm and arrived to find the door was open and the money was gone.

On Tuesday morning, the alarm sounded at about 5 a.m., Hickey said, and police collected evidence. A soda machine was also damaged during Tuesday's burglary.

Hickey said police are still investigating both crimes and he could not say if the two burglaries were related or if the same perpetrators committed both crimes.

"It just shows you that anybody can be a victim," Hickey said. "It doesn't matter if it's a city building, a vehicle or a home."

smoyers@semissourian.com

388-3642

Pertinent address:

2500 S. Sprigg St., Cape Girardeau, MO