West Fargo, N.D. – A local business owner captured surveillance camera footage of what appears to be a group of juveniles causing damage to his property this month.
Flag Family News obtained the video that shows a half dozen people throwing concrete slabs and a metal object that left large holes in the parking lot of Epic Technologies on 2nd Street East.
“We get incidents here and there but this one was a little more rambunctious than others,” said owner James Beck.
The video, which was taken at 6:57pm on Friday June 13, is less than a minute long and shows the six people involved gathering in the lot.
Flag Family News has decided to blur the faces of the people involved since they all appear to be minors.
As the footage begins, a chunk of concrete is hurled into view by someone off camera.
The person eventually walks into the frame after the slab landed on the ground.
Another member of the group then runs over, and the pair is seen picking up the slab two more times attempting to smash it on the lot surface.
Later in the video, another person in a dark hoodie with his face partially covered is seen walking in the direction of the camera.
Footage then shows the person retrieving a metal trailer hitch receiver and begins waving it tauntingly at another group member.
All of a sudden, the video shows the person turning around swinging the receiver over their head, violently slamming it onto the concrete lot before the group starts to walk away from the scene.
Toward the end of the video, the person in the hoodie runs back to grab a scooter.
As the person rides off, they appear to glance at the camera and are heard shouting “My hand’s dirty as f— now!” before the video ends.
“It’s just so dumb,” said Beck. “I just don’t want them and others back but that’s unlikely.”
Beck also says the group appeared to rush over to try and push over a portable toilet off camera.
Beck says it would be too expensive to repair the damage and shield his property from further vandalism.
“I’ll probably just live with it,” said Beck. “I’m just annoyed.”
“Something else is going to happen at some point [at my property] unless I fence it off and put barbed wire at the top which is a cost I just don’t want to have to undertake.”
Asked if he would contact police, Beck indicated that would be futile based on his other past personal experiences with authorities.
“They don’t really care,” replied Beck. “It’s a complete waste of time and a hassle. They’re not going to do anything.”
Flag Family News has reached out to the city of West Fargo and are waiting to hear back.
Beck also has a message for the parents or guardians.
“I’m not a parent and I’m not going to pass judgement but [I would tell the parents] at the very least that [kids] should stay off private property,” said Beck. “Teach them common sense.”
