A commercial burglary at a local church resulted in the theft of property valued at over $4,500.
Brent Everett with the Independence County Sheriff’s Department said Mario Escorcia, the pastor of the Monte Sinai Iglesia De Dios Church located on North St. Louis St. in Batesville, told him the church was in the process of building an addition, and that’s where the theft occurred, according to the incident report.
Taken from inside the addition area were several power and hand tools, along with a compressor and building materials, the report noted. Everett said Escorcia believes the thief entered through an unlocked window, and that is why there was no sign of a forced entry.
Escorcia also told Everett he is in the process of getting a complete list of stolen items, but he estimated at least $4,500 worth of property was taken.
Everett also noted there is a person of interest in the case, which is now under active investigation.
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