Tulsa fur store owner says vandalism at her business is 'terrorism'

The owner of a Tulsa business is calling it â€˜terrorism.â€™ That's after repeated vandalism at her south Tulsa store. <br><br>Tulsa Police say vandalism is up all over town, but as News on Six anchor

Wednesday, January 15th 2003, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

The owner of a Tulsa business is calling it â€˜terrorism.â€™ That's after repeated vandalism at her south Tulsa store.

Tulsa Police say vandalism is up all over town, but as News on Six anchor Tami Marler shows us, in this case, the fur seems to be flying over, fur.

"They actually stood outside with a rock and beat on it, trying to get the windows down." Nancy Sangirardi has dealt with a lot in the six and-a-half years she's owned her fur shop.

Animal rights activists have protested her merchandise with prank phone calls, hate mail, even semi-naked picket lines. Jesse Markus, animal rights activist, â€œwhen people wear a fur coat, they need to understand they're wearing the skin of a tortured animal for their own vanity."

Sangirardi, "That doesn't bother me, because as far as I'm concerned, my freedom of speech is as important as theirs. But when you maliciously damage somebody's business or property with the intent of trying to close them, they've stepped over the line." Sangirardi says she's being singled out, because no one else in this strip center is being vandalized. But she is, time and again. And she's had it.

"These are people that intended to get out of their vehicles, walk up to my windows, and chose to damage them." Tuesday night was the third time Sangirardi's has been broken into in three months.

The first time she lost thousands of dollars in merchandise, the next time, the bad guys left her something. "And the biggest pane left is the one that says â€˜ALFâ€™ - that terrorist organization of anti-fur activists." According to the Animal Liberation Front's website, they're a covert worldwide group that destroys the property of businesses like Sangirardi Furs. Their long-term goal is to force what they consider "animal abusers" out of business.

Nancy Sangirardi says they're terrorists. "I hope that anyone who watches or sees this, if they know of anyone, if they've seen anyone, will get in touch with the authorities and let them know. Because for every business that goes out, it hurts the Tulsa community, especially mom and pop businesses like us."

Tulsa Police are not ready to blame animal activists for Sangirardi's break-ins, and the Animal Liberation Front works anonymously, so we were not able to reach them for comment.

Nancy Sangirardi says these attacks cost so much, she may have to consider moving her business.