Liquor, money taken in 6 Athens burglaries

ATHENS — One or more burglars not only took money from area businesses but also nabbed hundreds of dollars in liquor from a restaurant and vandalized a preacher's office.

The Athens Police Department is investigating six burglaries that occurred Thursday night at the Sportsplex concession stand, T&T Auto, Giovanni's, Madison Street Baptist Church, EZ Pay Auto Sales and Primera Iglesia Bautista Hispana, also known as Hispanic First Baptist Church.

Someone pried open the door at the Sportsplex concession stand and took $60 in change, Capt. Marty Bruce said. The burglar or burglars also gained entry to the press box, sound room and a storage building but took nothing from those rooms.

At T&T Auto on North Jefferson Street, someone broke a window and pried open the office door with a pry bar, Bruce said. The thief or thieves took $30 from the cash register.

At Giovanni's on the square someone pried open the storage room door to enter the restaurant. Alcohol, not money, tempted the burglar or burglars, who broke into a liquor cabinet and made off with about $300 worth of liquor.

Someone pried open a window at EZ Pay Auto Sales on North Jefferson Street. Burglars went through the desk and another room in the building. Several compact disc players were stolen along with $176 in cash.

Not even churches were safe from the burglary spree.

Someone broke into an office safe at Madison Street Baptist. The burglars stole a Dell Inspiron 1501 laptop computer and about $50 in cash and change. Three doors were damaged from either being kicked in or pried open.

Nothing was missing at Hispanic First Baptist, but burglars damaged three doors, and someone discharged a fire extinguisher in the preacher's office and inside the hallway.

Bruce said it "is a very good possibility" that the same person or persons committed all burglaries and thefts except for the Sportsplex burglary.

Anyone with information can call police at 233-8700.

Holly Hollman

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