Greencastle Moose Lodge robbed

Thursday, February 4, 2010

GREENCASTLE -- The board of Greencastle Moose Lodge No. 1592 held an emergency meeting Wednesday night to discuss a burglary that occurred at the lodge Monday night.

Moose Lodge administrator Tim Spurlock estimated that somewhere between $15,000 and $17,000 had been taken from the lodge, which is located at 212 W. Franklin St.

"This is a shock to me," Spurlock said. "It hurts. We do things for the community, and this is what happens. We feel violated."

Spurlock and other lodge officials will be meeting today with representatives from their insurance company to determine how much of what was lost the lodge can recoup.

Lodge officials are working with officers from the Greencastle Police Department to try to piece together what happened. Spurlock said he and a few other lodge officers "coded out" of the lodge at 11:36 p.m. Monday, and the robbery was discovered by a maintenance man when he arrived at the lodge at 6:40 a.m. Tuesday.

"They cut the phone lines and my cable and alarm lines outside at the box," Spurlock said. "They pried in the back door -- the one that faces toward the old jail. They turned the breakers off and tore the security system pad off the wall. They destroyed the security cameras, kicked in six doors and ransacked drawers and cabinets.

"They tore the safe, which was bolted down, out of the floor," Spurlock continued. "The safe had bags with money for all the different committees -- euchre, darts and sports -- along with one that had the money we'd raised for a new air conditioning unit. I know there was at least $3,100 in that bag alone."

The thief -- or thieves -- also took the lodge's bingo box and cash register drawers, all of which contained small amounts of cash.

"I'm still trying to figure exact amounts going off the last month end reports I did," Spurlock said.

Also stolen was Spurlock's laptop computer, as well as the lodge's petty cash box.

"We had to draw money out of our savings account Tuesday so we had enough cash to open the doors and operate," Spurlock said. "There was literally not a dollar left on the premises."

Spurlock declined to speculate on whether or not the robbery may have been committed by a lodge member or employee.

"What I will say is that I feel it had to have been someone with knowledge of the layout and the business," he said. "They had to be affiliated somehow, and they had to have been professionals -- they didn't leave any fingerprints."

Spurlock said he is also relatively sure the robbery was committed by more than one person.

"The safe weighed between 1,200 and 1,500 pounds," he said.

The police investigation into the incident is ongoing.

"We have no suspects at this time," said GPD Chief Tom Sutherlin.

Spurlock is unsure how much the lodge was insured for, as the policy documents were, in accordance with Moose Lodge bylaws, secured in the safe that was stolen.

"I just can't believe this happened," Spurlock said. "We host proms. We do things to help kids. I feel like we just got slapped in the face."

Anyone with any information on the robbery is asked to call the Greencastle Police Department at 653-2925 and asked for Detective Mike Collins or Detective Randy Seipel.

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  • I'm teribly sorry for the loss suffered by this organization. In this article, it seems that the Lodge administer is overly shocked that this has happened to them just because the Moose does so many things for the community. Since when do thieves have morals?

    Very recent history has given us much more shocking thefts than booze and bingo profits.

    This will be a simple case if you would start investigating employees and members, past and present. Soon enough, we will read another article of an arrest, then another article of the accomplice(s).

    Then we can blog about the accused and their families, and the punishment, etc., etc.

    -- Posted by Xgamer on Thu, Feb 4, 2010, at 6:42 AM
  • In response to xgamer's comment: I am a member of the Moose Lodge and I take offense to you referring to the robbery/theft of our Lodge profits from "booze and bingo" seemingly minor in comparison to other thefts in this County! We are not just "booze and bingo"!! I for one (and there are many members) who do not belong to the lodge for "booze and bingo"! Did you not read the article? We lost far more than the profits from those sales! We don't even know how much the repair costs of the destroyed wires, security system repair, monies to repair our air conditioning system (which were raised by hard working members), cable lines, doors that need replaced/repaired, etc... The loss is far greater than the administrator indicated of $15,000 to $17,000. Our Pride is Hurt! Our goal at the lodge is not "booze and bingo" for your information. Yes, we use those funds in part to operate but, our existance is far greater. Our goal is to support our children who live at Mooseheart and our Seniors at Moosehaven. Without the Moose Lodges these children who are sometimes without parents and homes would not grow up to be productive citizens, our Seniors might be living on the streets and eating out of garbage cans! Also, our community donations to the Organizations just in Putnam County that we help support would be without our donations. So, Xgamer....please know, we are not just "booze and bingo" and if you or anyone else thinks that...your dead wrong! I personally invite you and anyone else who has that perception of our Lodge to come in and let one of us educate you on our goals and purpose for existance!

    -- Posted by gocolts2010 on Thu, Feb 4, 2010, at 8:43 AM
  • They are too busy hanging outside the bars and taverens looking to arrest someone there rather than canvasing the town looking for real criminals.

    -- Posted by Hazel on Thu, Feb 4, 2010, at 10:25 AM
  • So people who get into their vehicles drunk and drive around putting themselves and everyone else at risk are not considered "real criminals"? I am sorry to hear that you feel that way Hazel.

    I am also sorry to hear about the break in and the losses the lodge took. I hope the person/s are caught soon.

    -- Posted by SmallTownGirl5 on Thu, Feb 4, 2010, at 12:18 PM
  • Oh my, where are my manners. Maybe profits from booze, bingo, food, cigarettes, and fund raisers.

    No one has criticized what you do or support, I made light that Spurlock is so shocked that this could happen to them. gocolts2010, did you not read and understand my comment?

    Is this the order we should be concerned?

    1. Moose's funds.

    2. Needy Childrens funds.

    3. Gobin Methodist Church funds.\

    If anyone would steal from a church, or from needy kids, what is to stop them from thinking about stealing from your frat?

    -- Posted by Xgamer on Thu, Feb 4, 2010, at 12:27 PM
  • Ha! Yeah...right on Xgamer! I always love your comments...and even usually agree with them...this is no exception!

    -- Posted by ExHoosier on Thu, Feb 4, 2010, at 2:15 PM
  • From the article it is apparent that whomever did this were knowledgeable about the layout of the lodge and it's security measures as well as coming equipped to do the job. This would indicate at least one, probably more, visits to the lodge as well as some idea as to how much was in the safe. (why go to all the trouble if the take is minimal?)

    I would check members or the sign in ledgers of guests. Look for guests who have appeared once or twice in the last month, or members who only participate minimally in lodge activities. Offer a reward, someone knows something. In these times people need money and will talk about this.

    -- Posted by exhoosier2 on Thu, Feb 4, 2010, at 2:58 PM
  • Gocolts2010,maybe our community should,"take offense" to Spurlock saying they do these good things for the community and this is what happens,they get slapped in the face.That comes across as feeling like the community slapped you in the face.You "do proms,you help kids,ect and look what happens"? It is the boogie mans fault,not the community.You can bet your cheap drinks that it WAS a inside job.Any average detective could deduct that w/facts as they are.When you say "and look what happens",I think you left out some things.First,our area has had many thefts,perk your ears up and do business w/that in mind. Secondly,use the bank,$3000.00 sitting around until summer air conditioning repairs? Cant write a check when repaired?Many "bags of cash" in safe? THATS what happens.Something fishy at the moose....

    -- Posted by honestyisbestpolicy on Thu, Feb 4, 2010, at 2:58 PM
  • Robbery is taking something from someone by force or threat of force.

    The Moose was burglarized ie: breaking and entering of a dwelling or building of another to commit a felony.

    Gee Banner you can find all kind of useful information on the web to make your reporting factual.

    -- Posted by hardtobelieve on Thu, Feb 4, 2010, at 3:10 PM
  • Whoever did this definitely knew the layout of the lodge. It's not that often that you hear of someone knowing where the cameras are, the safe, where the money is, along with cutting phone and cable tv lines.

    Glad to see hardtobelieve clarify the difference between a break in and robbery. That gets on my nerves too when people don't know the difference.

    -- Posted by purple_heat on Thu, Feb 4, 2010, at 4:20 PM
  • What about all the homes in this community that are being robbed and nothing in the paper about it. How would anyone like to get home and have nothing left in their home cause someone pulled up and wiped them of everything in their house.I know of several of these cases and nothing in banner so folks can be aware of it. It isn't going to get any better-it will get worse.Far as the Moose is concerned-yes they do alot of good for the community but also bad=they let folks leave there drunk and a risk to the community.Bingo-well you can see most folks sittin there playing bingo after they get their monthly check gambling and hoping to hit big-and some these folks have to get help for the rest of the month with food. They also make money off the poor and the ones that sit in there and drink their check away when they have a family at home.I know what the Moose is about-I was one of those kids years ago that had to live with a dad that gambled and drank money away to help the needy?

    -- Posted by peace2019 on Thu, Feb 4, 2010, at 5:15 PM
  • The Moose has been robbing poor drunks for several years!

    -- Posted by 1stamendrights on Thu, Feb 4, 2010, at 5:44 PM
  • Spurlock sounds as if he has misplaced anger by blaming the community. "We do things..... and this is what happens." If anyone "slapped them in the face" it was the criminals who broke in. Although, I doubt they really care about what the Moose does for the community. I'm betting if they find the culprits, they will turn out to be someone closely connected with the goings-ons in the Lodge. It was very well masterminded for someone to have broken in there at random.

    -- Posted by confusedami on Thu, Feb 4, 2010, at 7:28 PM
  • Hey Bam, those people spend there money at the Moose because they want to, not because somebody made them go in there, sit down, and drink. People make choices on how they spend money, the choice isn't made for them. Bingo, pool, and darts are there for entertainment, not as a reason to blow a paycheck. If some people blow all there money on booze, bingo, pull-tabs etc.., then that's fine, just don't blame the Moose. There are several more bars in town and several more places to play bingo, but you don't point the finger at them. So don't point the finger at the MOOSE!

    -- Posted by ZRXguy on Thu, Feb 4, 2010, at 9:14 PM
  • You Know I believe Mr. Spurlocks comments were taken during a stressful time for him and his organization and should be taken with a small grain of salt and understanding. As far as all the legal experts out there. Your grasp of investigating and crime solving is highly impressive. You should all get together and form the New Justice League and stamp out Crime! HaHA

    -- Posted by hardtobelieve on Thu, Feb 4, 2010, at 9:27 PM
  • It's obviously not the fault of the moose, but a business should not keep that much cash on hand. Especially during these hard times when there has been so much theft reported. Go to the bank. It's just a block away.

    And I think everyone should lay off the people that go to the Moose. Don't you think our communities are already broken up enough? There are too many people that don't get that sense of community/family. The Moose provides that atmosphere. Take it or leave it. They hurt no one and have good intentions and they definitely do contribute to the well being of our community. Is a little booze and some bingo with friends so horrible? Geez. Loosen up people. Go listen to some live music and sing & laugh out loud!

    -- Posted by just a local on Thu, Feb 4, 2010, at 9:35 PM
  • sounds like inside job to me and well planned out and not just a all of sudden robbery.

    -- Posted by oldman105 on Fri, Feb 5, 2010, at 11:53 AM
  • XGamer: yes, I read your comment and I didn't say you were critizing what we do or support! In fact, I just wanted to educate you on what we are about..and not just "booze and bingo" as you were insinuating! As for your order that you feel we should be concerned (1. 2. 3. ) I honestly don't feel that there is any order at all that should be of conern. Evidently you do since you listed a concern order. Any robbery in our community is major concern in my book no matter how big or small!

    As for what comments the administrator makes to a reporter is his words and definitely not mine or how other members may or may not feel.

    -- Posted by gocolts2010 on Fri, Feb 5, 2010, at 12:25 PM
  • You should give it a rest gocolts2010. Your frat is nothing more than a well organized private club for members to gather, eat, drink, smoke, gamble and socialize in groups for worthy causes (fund raisers). I haven't blasphemed the Moose Lodge yet, but I could easily if it was on topic.

    Please tell your tutor to help you read the comments IN ORDER, and go over every sentence to make sure you understand what you read as you go.

    -- Posted by Xgamer on Fri, Feb 5, 2010, at 2:59 PM
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