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The Fayette County Record
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Published 2 years ago
Last updated 2 years ago
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Burglars Strike Church, Country Store in Rural Mullins Prairie

By Andy Behlen
  • Burglars Strike Church, Country Store in Rural Mullins Prairie
    Burglars Strike Church, Country Store in Rural Mullins Prairie
  • The glass front door of New Bethel Missionary Baptist Church, left, was broken along with several windows. The church, which is located on Loehr Rd. near Mullins Prairis, was also ransacked on the inside. Right, a screenshot from surveillance video at Mullins Prairie Store shows one of two burglars who broke into the establishment and stole several thousand dollars in beer and liquor.
    The glass front door of New Bethel Missionary Baptist Church, left, was broken along with several windows. The church, which is located on Loehr Rd. near Mullins Prairis, was also ransacked on the inside. Right, a screenshot from surveillance video at Mullins Prairie Store shows one of two burglars who broke into the establishment and stole several thousand dollars in beer and liquor.
  • Above, surveillance video showed one of the burglars stealing beer from the Mullins Prairie Store walk-in cooler. Pictured below, right, is the inside of the ransacked New Bethel sanctuary.
    Above, surveillance video showed one of the burglars stealing beer from the Mullins Prairie Store walk-in cooler. Pictured below, right, is the inside of the ransacked New Bethel sanctuary.
  • Burglars Strike Church, Country Store in Rural Mullins Prairie
    Burglars Strike Church, Country Store in Rural Mullins Prairie

Update: After the print edition went to press on Thursday morning, The Fayette County Sheriff's Office notified us that they identified three suspects responsible for the break-ins at Mullins Prairie Store and New Bethel Missionary Baptist Church. Charges were pending as of Thursday, July 20. Look for an update on this story in Tuesday's paper.

Mullins Prairie was the scene of two break-ins this week, and investigators say they could be connected.

A pair of burglars broke into Mullins Prairie Store around 1 a.m. Tuesday, July 18. Surveillance video from the store showed two suspects wearing ski masks enter the store after breaking the front glass window. The video showed the thieves pilfering the bar and walk-in cooler.

Donna Benham, the manager of Mullins Prairie Store, told the Record that the thieves took 20 bottles of liquor and seven cases of beer and wine coolers. She estimated the value of the merchandise and the glass replacement at $3,500.

Investigator Angela Lala with the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office said she was following up on several tips about the Mullins Prairie Store burglary, but no suspects were named as of Wednesday, July 19.

Then on Tuesday evening, a couple walking their dogs on Loehr Rd. discovered a breakin at the New Bethel Missionary Baptist Church. The couple called the Sheriff’s Office to report the break-in around 7:35 p.m. The glass door and several windows had been broken.

Deputies from the Sheriff’s Office arrived and found the interior of the church had been ransacked. The church held worship services on Sunday, July 16, so the break-in happened between then and Tuesday evening.

A suspicious black Dodge Charger had been seen driving in the area, Lala said. She said whoever was responsible may have been looking for money, but nothing was taken.

When asked whether the two crimes may be related, Lala said, “Possibly, it seems like there may be the same number of suspects, so there is a possible relationship at this time.”

If anyone has information about these crimes, contact the Sheriff’s Office at (979) 9685856.

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