Authorities investigating series of area break-ins

Republican Valley fourth graders will still get to go on a Lincoln field trip next month, despite a burglar stealing their trip money during a break-in at the elementary school in Indianola early Sunday morning.

"They stole money from kids," said Republican Valley Superintendent Brent McMurtrey.

Those who entered the elementary building and the high school damaged doors, windows, locks, file cabinets, a safe, computers and desks, McMurtrey said. He has no damage estimates yet because it's not known what can be repaired and what will need to be replaced.

The school break-ins were two of several in the area over the weekend, including one at Trinity United Methodist Church in Cambridge.

Red Willow County Sheriff Gene Mahon said his officers provided Furnas County sheriff's officers a piece of the puzzle in their investigation of the break-in at the church in Cambridge.

Mahon said his officers found a safe from the church, on fire on a county road southwest of McCook, near the District 8 schoolhouse, about 6:45 a.m. Sunday.

The first report of break-ins began coming in to the McCook Public Safety Center Saturday morning at 8:25. Before it was all said and done seven calls had been received regarding burglaries around McCook.

According to McCook Police Chief Ike Brown break-ins at five McCook churches and two businesses appear to be related to the rash of burglaries that have occurred in Southwest Nebraska and Northwest Kansas over the past few weeks.

Brown said weekend burglaries at St. Patrick's Church, Peace Lutheran Church, the McCook Christian Church, the Church of the Latter Day Saints, Our Savior's Lutheran Church, D's Place and Schmidt Construction are not only related to burglaries at a Cambridge church and the Republican Valley High School and the Republican Valley Elementary Schools, but also to burglaries which have occurred over the last few weeks around the area that are under investigation.

Republican Valley students had an extra day off for Easter vacation because of the burglaries, but the thieves apparently concentrated on finding money.

Brown said the people involved in the break-ins "obviously knew what they were looking for," because the damage done on the properties was limited to getting into the buildings and gaining access to any money.

Brown said his office is fully cooperating with other law enforcement agencies around the area to resolve the investigation.

Anyone with information on these crimes should call their local law enforcement agency. To remain anonymous call Crime Stoppers at (308) 345-5440 or (866) 345-5440.