Town office burglary results in loss of $38,000

MACHIASPORT – More than $38,000 was taken from a safe in an apparent break-in discovered Wednesday at the town office, authorities said.

The burglary was discovered by Town Clerk Margaret Flaherty when she arrived at work about 8:15 a.m. At first, all appeared normal until Flaherty noticed that the safe in the selectmen’s office was wide open.

“The safe door is steel and has two locks,” Flaherty said. “I don’t know how they got through that steel.” A filing cabinet had been moved and some books had fallen onto the floor, she said

Flaherty said that the safe contained two days worth of municipal receipts amounting to $38,401, most of that in checks, and was in two Machias Savings Bank bags, she said.

Detective Sgt. Kelly Barbee of the Maine State Police said the money was the only thing missing.

Entry was made through the back of the town office, where authorities found a door had been pried open and a window left open.

Barbee said the investigation has uncovered physical evidence, including tool and tire marks as well as fingerprints.

The break-in is believed to have occurred sometime after midnight, and Barbee said that it appears one person acted alone.