Church damaged as thief enters through bell tower

MEXICO -- Police are closing in on the culprit(s) who gained entry into the Mexico Congregational "Green" Church through the bell tower, took money, items from the GRAMPA food pantry and caused more than $1,000 damage to the sacred facility.

Mexico Police Lt. Roy Hodsdon said they received the report of the incident at 9:43 a.m. on June 27. The night before, someone entered through the bell town, repelled down the rope through a ceiling tile into the church.

"We determined they had been throughout the church, going through locked and unlocked doors. They stole an undisclosed amount of money and stole some food, which we found outside," he said.

That food, some of which had been frozen, was not salvageable after rain fell on it.

There was damage done to cabinets and to at least three of locked doors.

"We do have a suspect," noted Hodsdon, adding that the church has been very cooperative in this case.

"We collected quite a bit of physical evidence, including a foot print. We're in the process of sending evidence to the crime lab for DNA," he said.

When asked about past history, Hodsdon said there was a similar burglary to the Main Street church in 2008 as entry was made through the bell tower. That case remains open.