Burglar disrupts signature fund-raiser

Tonight at Wilson Mall is one of the signature events of Wilson's civic life, The Arc's Taste of Wilson. Anyone who has ever attended — and there are hundreds of "regulars" who show up every year — knows what a "filling" event it is. Dozens of Wilson restaurants provide a "taste" of their cuisine for each of the 2,000 ticket holders. From 5:30 until 7:30 — or until the food runs out — customers line up to check off the 10 "tastes" to which their tickets entitle them.

The proceeds of this event go toward the work of The Arc, formerly the Association for Retarded Citizens. The charity provides a summer camp and other services for developmentally disabled children. It is by far the largest fund-raiser for The Arc. (Full disclosure: I am a member of the local Arc board and have volunteered with Taste of Wilson for years.)

The past several years, Taste of Wilson has included a silent auction for donated items, many of them the work of local artists. As The Wilson Daily Times reported Monday, three break-ins at the Arc's offices in the United Way building on West Nash Street resulted in the loss of equipment and dozens of items donated for the silent auction. According to the newspaper report, many of the items were not stolen; they were simply smashed and destroyed. Among the destroyed items was a local artist's painting valued at $400. Those items that were not destroyed were blackened with fingerprint powder (which is nearly impossible to remove) when Wilson police conducted their investigation.

I'm told that the fingerprinting succeeded in identifying the burglar. Let me suggest that the offender be sentenced to no less than 1,000 hours of community service. Tossing someone like him, who is so angry/destructive/disrespectful, into prison will only reinforce his anti-social behavior and will not help his victims. Force him to pick up trash, clear ditches, pull weeds, clean bedpans, etc. And let him see the needy children who are shortchanged by his vandalism. He should be severely punished for this wanton destructiveness, but I'm told one police officer predicted he'd be back out on the street five minutes after facing a magistrate.

Let me also suggest that the United Way install a burglar alarm in its building, which has been burglarized numerous times over the years it has served as the headquarters for several United Way agencies. It's hard to believe no burglar alarm has been installed.

Tickets are still available to the Taste of Wilson. They'll be sold at a booth near the mall's main entrance. Come and sample some of Wilson's finest restaurants, and support a worthy cause at the same time.