Why can't people respect property?

As a business owner in Des Plaines I am deeply saddened with the way some people have no respect for other peoples property.

I have been in business for 20 years, the first 18 in Mount Prospect, the last 2½ in Des Plaines, when we relocated to 1145 Elmhurst Road, formerly Grandma Sally's.

It was a new beginning for us: a bigger restaurant, more parking, and totally remodeled inside.

In all the years in Mount Prospect I never had to contact the police about any matters concerning the restaurant.

In 2½ years in Des Plaines I have contacted them numerous times. First was when someone graffiti'd the building while I was remodeling the inside; then I found a drunk man sleeping in my parking lot in the middle of the day.

We landscape the restaurant every year to make it look as pretty as possible; someone seems to think the hanging plants are there for them to take home. So far this summer three are missing.

The topper was yesterday when I came to work at 6 a.m. to find a mound of dirt, grass clippings, old sod and garbage in the middle of my lot.

I was so angry at first, then saddened. It just proves how little people respect other people's property. It was obviously a landscaper who decided he or she didn't want to pay to have this ton of garbage disposed of so they decided to dispose of it in my parking lot.

Thank you to who ever that person is; that day started out costing me $500 to have that garbage removed.

I'm very disappointed with Des Plaines and starting to second-guess my move to the city - as bad as I was treated in Mount Prospect I never felt threatened, but now I feel violated and threatened in Des Plaines.

I'm looking over my shoulder always now - what a way to have to live your life as a business owner in this wonderful city.

Mike Janczak, owner

Gail's Carriage Inn Restaurant & Pancake House

Des Plaines