Large Safe Stolen From Mpls. Thrift Store
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- In the early hours of Sunday, a thief or thieves bore a hole through the exterior wall of a thrift store, which benefits the needy, and stole a large safe containing about $1,000, according to the store's representatives.
At 3 a.m. on the day of the incident, police were called to St. Vincent de Paul thrift store in South Minneapolis. When they arrived, they found a hole in an exterior wall, which the thief or theives used to gain entry into the building. While inside they busted through the drywall to the offices, thereby gaining entry to those areas.
In one of the offices was a large safe, which was taken. It appears no merchandise was taken beyond the safe, which was approximately 100 pounds and believed to contain about $1,000.
The store has a surveillance system, but the tape was taken. The store is gathering surveillance tapes from nearby businesses, in an attempt to identify the suspect or suspects.
The exterior wall is wood and the store's manager says it appears somebody bore a hole through it.
The store hadn't been burglarized for more than a decade prior to this incident.
According to Ed Koerner, the Executive Director of St Vincent de Paul, the store is part of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, which is the largest lay Catholic charitable organization in the world. The Society operates thrift stores and food pantries as well as conducts personal visits to the homes of the poor.
