GLADSTONE, Mo. (KCTV) – The City of Gladstone passed a new tampering ordinance at the beginning of the week and police arrested someone related to the crime the following day.
The need for the new ordinance comes as the Greater Kansas City Area has seen an uptick in vandalism and property crimes, and the tampering charge allows Gladstone to file the charge in city court with a bigger penalty than a traditional trespassing charge would allow.
“A good example would be somebody breaking into a car – they may not steal anything out of the car, but they’re getting into the car or somebody’s garage – rummaging around,” Gladstone Police Cpt. Bryan Boydston said. “There’s not really enough there to charge them with burglary, but we can use this new tampering ordinance to get them charged at the city level.”
Dean Krouse witnessed Gladstone PD’s first tampering-related arrest on Tuesday. According to the citation the man repeatedly returned to his neighbor’s house multiple times within one day, and eventually tried to enter their home.
“He came back a third time to their front door, right as Gladstone PD pulled up, so that’s where it ended because they detained him and ended up taking him away,” Krouse said.
The vandalism has gotten worse in the eight years Krouse has lived in the neighborhood, and he has been making his neighbors aware of the problems he’s had on his property as well.
“I’ve had someone on my deck in broad daylight the last two days, while I’ve been gone, and I have six-year-old twins, so that scares me a little,” Krouse said. “I want them to be able to take it to that extent if they need to prosecute somebody, you know, this isn’t playtime, it’s not a joke. Stay off my property unless I invite you.”
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