By Per Peterson
The Tracy Police Department is investigating a 5:30 a.m. Sunday break-in at the Eagles Club, in which a pair of thieves made off with a substantial amount of money.
According to the TPD, the incident occurred between 5:30-6 a.m. on Sunday. The thieves used a moving cart that belonged to the club to get the safe out of the building, Eagles Secretary and Gambling Manager Steve Meyer said.
The safe was located behind the bar; it was pried from the floor.
“They had pry bars to work on the safe; it was bolted to the floor,” Meyer said. “One bolt was broken, the other one was ripped through the bottom of the safe. It didn’t come out of the floor. Whether they were there before, I don’t know.”
The money included cash from the Eagles’ Labor Day raffle, money from pull tabs and till money. There were also other miscellaneous items like keys, the ledger and the abstract in the safe, Meyer said.
“We know exactly how much was in there for gambling, and we know exactly how much was in the till,” Meyer said.
Meyer said the time stamp on the security camera read 5:30 a.m. when the perpetrators entered, and they were gone by 5:50 a.m.
Meyer said there is insurance on some of the items in the safe. It’s the second burglary at the Eagles in some time.
“The first time was a long time ago,” said Meyer. “The first time they busted the safe open there and just took the cash. I was fortunate enough to be the first one there both times.”
Meyer said the thieves tried to break into the ATM as well but were unsuccessful.
The TPD would appreciate any information someone might have about the incident.