Businesses vandalized in downtown Albany

ALBANY, Ga. (WALB) – Some businesses in downtown Albany are still boarding up their windows days after some businesses were vandalized.

Witnesses said a man jumped through glass windows and doors. Missy Whitney, owner of Paisley Fig Shop, said she still felt safe downtown despite the incident.

“I felt safe downtown. I didn’t really have any trouble,” she said.

Whitney has been a business owner for almost 3 years. During that time, she said she didn’t get into too much trouble, but she got a call this week while she was out of town.

“My employee got here Wednesday morning. I was in Atlanta. She called me and (is) sending me pictures like someone broke into my store,” Whitney said.

Whitney said the person who broke the glass did not enter her store. The man also broke glass at other nearby businesses, such as Homerun Foods and World Finance.

Whitney said the people who broke into her home probably didn’t intend to steal anything. She added that such incidents are rare in urban areas, and that the man “just jumped out of windows and whatever else he could find.”

Since then, the glass has been cleaned and the doors replaced.

The Albany Police Department headquarters is just around the corner from the Whitney store. She said they were always quick to respond.

“A guy came in and started something. I called them right away. They were there in less than a minute,” Whitney said.

Whitney said she still plans to install more cameras, and she would like to see the city add more downtown lighting. She also thinks a busier downtown would also make it safer.

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