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Much of the economy has been shut down due to the coronavirus.

What still pays, however, is being alert to potential mischief.

“We’ve seen an uptick in theft and vandalism,” La Conner Mayor Ramon Hayes told the Weekly News last Thursday. “It’s a strange time. We all feel more vulnerable.”

In response, the Town earlier this month hired a private security firm to conduct downtown night patrols through May 4 while the statewide “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” emergency order is in effect.

The Town Council has since authorized that the range of those patrols be expanded from the business district into residential neighborhoods.

That action came during the panel’s video-conferenced April 14 meeting.

“The firm is willing to patrol the entire town,” Hayes told Council members.

He said the security company, United Protection Services, can fill shifts in support of daytime coverage of the town by the La Conner detachment of the Skagit County Sheriff’s Office.

The recent spree has come at a time when many businesses are closed to help stop the spread of COVID-19. It began with a window being broken at Country Grounds Coffee, Morris and Sixth Streets, and the theft of potted trees from outside the Pac Nor Westy clothing store on Commercial Avenue.

Then came apparent attempted break-ins that triggered security alarms at Anelia’s Restaurant and Trumpeter Gallery, the latter business owned by Hayes.

The next wave came in neighborhoods.

Two weeks ago a 40-pound stone pagoda garden statue was stolen from Stuart Hutt’s South Fourth Street residence. Two wooden bear chainsaw sculptures and a flowerpot were ripped off April 16.

The Sheriff’s Office located one of the bears, which had been damaged, at the intersection of Maple and Caledonia.

Hutt shrugged off the initial theft of the pagoda.

“I didn’t do anything about it,” he said, “but then I heard others in town had things missing. It ended up happening to me twice in 10 days.”

Hutt also said a Katy’s Inn parking sign was left outside his house.

“They pulled it out of their place and put it into my bushes,” said Hutt. “The things they’re taking are easy to get to. It’s all petty stuff, but it’s happening all over town.”

Over a dozen yard lights and their bases were taken from Katy’s Inn as well.

“They were carefully lifted out and removed,” said Katy’s Inn co-owner John Durgin. “It seems to be a combination of mischief and malice.”

A prime example was the theft Sunday night of more than $200 of colorful outdoor art from Jaci Chamness’ well-lit Sixth Street yard.

“It looks like they reached over the fence and even walked up the steps,” said Chamness, whose unique yard décor is a favorite with locals and visitors alike.

“I don’t want to have to take it all inside,” Chamness said. “People like to stop here and take pictures.”

Among her missing items are a set of tulip-shaped horseshoes and a cowboy boot birdfeeder.

“There could be other things, too,” she said

An even more bold theft took place recently near the Whatcom Street home of Council member Mary Wohleb.

“My neighbor, Terry Nelson, had his wallet stolen from his home during daylight,” she reported at the Council meeting.

Town officials are taking the rash of misdeeds seriously.

“I don’t think this is just kids playing a prank,” Council member Bill Stokes responded.

Hayes said temporarily hiring a private company to provide night patrols augments regular coverage provided by the county.

“It’s really no reflection on the sheriff’s office at all,” said Hayes. “They can’t be everywhere all the time. It’s more a reflection on these times.” Monday afternoon he used the terms “porch prowlers, thefts of opportunities and crimes of convenience.”

Of the Sheriff’s Office, Hayes said, Monday, “They are our police service. They are a great resource and we have a great relationship.”

Skagit County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Jeff Willard, who administers the La Conner detachment, said the security firm offers “more eyes and ears” during a time of heightened anxiety.

“I think the mayor made a good decision during the shutdown to put one more layer of security on the town,” said Willard, who worked back-to-back 10-hour shifts here Saturday and Sunday.

“They fill in the gaps when deputies aren’t actually in town patrolling,” he added, “even though we’re always within a 10-minute response time.”

Willard said any uptick in crime “causes uneasiness and puts additional anxiety on folks.”

Town officials are also exploring the feasibility of enlisting a trained volunteer citizens patrol at some point.

“I’m all for it,” Council member John Leaver said. “See something, say something, call 9-1-1.”

Willard said La Conner is ideally suited for block watch and citizen patrol programs.

“Neighbors take care of neighbors here,” he told the Weekly News on Saturday.

Given present stress levels, Wohleb said the Town should take a cautious approach going forward.

“People are pretty anxious right now,” she said. “We don’t want to do anything that throws gasoline on the fire.”