AUTHORITIES NEED HELP
IN CASE OF MISSING SAFE

By Jon Mayhew

DENVER – Detectives with the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office are asking for the public's help in identifying a suspect in the theft of $12,000 and the safe the money was in from Holy Spirit Catholic Church on Highway 16 in eastern Lincoln County.

Detective Darrell Hutchens said a Sister at the church encountered an individual inside the church around 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, Dec.14. The man was wandering the halls and told her he thought the church was a location similar to Christian Ministries.

He then left the church and got into a clean white SUV possibly a Ford Explorer. The man said his wife was in the vehicle but the Sister did not see anyone. He was not carrying anything when he left the church. The theft of the two-foot x two foot black safe weighing about 70 pounds was not discovered until the next morning.

He is described as a white or possibly Hispanic male, with a slight accent. He was wearing jeans and a gray sweatshirt with the hood pulled up on his head. The clothing was described as dirty. He is estimated to be between 35 and 45 years old.

Anyone with information about this incident should contact the Sheriff’s Office Detective Division at (704) 736-8856 or Crimestoppers at (704) 736-8909. A reward may be paid of up to $1,000 for anonymous information that leads to an arrest in any crime.