PHILLIPS – Two juveniles confessed this week to absconding with a church safe, breaking it open and stealing $500 in cash, according to Deputy Kenneth Charles of the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department.
Charles said Friday that a 15-year-old, who lives in Dixfield and Farmington, was arrested on a warrant earlier in the week for failure to appear on assault charges. The same young man later confessed to stealing the safe with a 17-year-old female friend from New Vineyard who also confessed Thursday.
Police received a report of the theft July 12 from the Lighthouse Baptist Church on Sawyer Street. The safe contained offerings from Sunday’s service – $500 in cash – and office records and supplies. A Sony digital camera, valued at around $200, was also taken.
Charles said he had taken fingerprints from a file cabinet that had been next to the safe, which weighed about 50 pounds. It was about the size of a good-sized computer monitor, he said.
During Charles’ investigation, the church’s pastor discovered the safe in the woods behind the church. A combination lock foiled the burglars, but the box was smashed open with a hammer, Charles said Friday.
While arresting the 15-year-old earlier in the week, Deputy Sandy Burke had heard that the boy had $500 cash and a digital camera. Police also learned that the two juveniles had been living on Sawyer Street until July 13, after which they apparently used the stolen money to buy a tent and air mattress and were camping in the girl’s parents’ New Vineyard yard.
“It was too coincidental,” Charles said.
Police got a search warrant for the tent, where they later found a Sony digital camera in a case that matched the description of the one stolen. They also recovered $46 in cash.
The two teens admitted to the theft. They were each charged with theft and burglary and released to guardians.
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