Thieves Loot Museums in Three Break-ins

WAITSBURG – The Waitsburg Historical Society is offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the burglar(s) who made three separate break-ins to Waitsburg museum properties last week.

The first break-in, to the Bruce House Memorial Museum, was discovered on Wednesday afternoon. Thursday morning, it was discovered that the adjoining Wilson-Phillips House had also been burglarized. On Friday, board members discovered the thief had made a second entry into the Bruce House.

The first break-in was discovered Wednesday afternoon, April 8, when Joanna Martin, who lives next door to the Bruce House Museum, was in her backyard and noticed a broken window and glass on the museum lawn. Martin called Historical Society board member Anita Baker, who determined there had been a break-in and notified the authorities.

One window pane was partially broken from a north-facing window of the museum, above the museum's side porch, and second was removed completely, with glass strewn across the lawn. Historical Society President Richard Hinds said it looked as if the thief broke one pane partially out, then reached inside and knocked the other pane out completely, from the inside out, tossing the glass on the lawn in the process.

The thief apparently climbed through the fully removed pane, which measures 14" wide by 21" tall. "It's not too big, but I could fit through there," said Hinds.

Entering through the pane didn't appear to be the burglar's first choice of entry. A small piece of glass was broken from another pane, where it looked like the thief attempted to reach in and turn the latch, in order to open the window completely. There were also pry marks at the bottom of the window. The windows have been painted shut for years and the thief was unable to pry the window open.

Baker said the only thing immediately evident as missing was an array of antique spoons that had been displayed on the small table in the Bruce House kitchen, just inside the window. A few additional pieces of silverware were removed from some place settings, but others remained. Aside from some items being moved out of the way of the window to allow for entry, Baker and Hinds didn't notice anything else missing at first pass.

On Thursday morning, Historical Society Board Member Mary Phillips decided to check on the Wilson-Phillips House, which adjoins the Bruce House property, and discovered it had been burglarized as well. Drawers and cabinets had been rummaged through and left open throughout the house. In the Military Room upstairs, a Plexiglas cabinet front was broken out and antique swords, guns and medals were missing. Several knives were also taken from a display in the Barber Shop Room downstairs.

Phillips said it appeared the thief had entered through a small bathroom window on the west side of the home. A faulty latch, which has now been repaired, appeared locked from the inside, but hadn't actually latched. The first two burglaries were discovered Wednesday and Thursday but board members are unsure of exactly when the break-ins took place.

The most recent offense occurred Thursday night when the thief returned to the Bruce House and entered by removing the plywood that had been temporarily placed over the window the night prior. Board members covered the window immediately after the initial break-in was discovered but, because of the late hour, but didn't have the necessary materials on hand to secure the board from the inside without causing damage the museum. They had intended to return the next morning to install a more secure barrier.

During the Thursday night break-in the burglar(s) ignored the silverware still sitting on the kitchen table and instead rummaged through drawers and cabinets in the museum's upstairs bedrooms. Hinds said pieces of silver jewelry were taken. Between the three break-ins, the thieves took silver, swords, guns, knives, medals and jewelry. Hinds said that he, Baker and Historical Society Curator Gail Gwinn will go through the home's inventory together to determine exactly what is missing. "That may take awhile," he said.

"Obviously, the entire community is concerned and we are awfully disappointed, especially with all the work that has gone into putting this together, all by volunteer efforts," said Hinds. "It's hard to watch it just walk out the door. And of course there is the safety concern."

Historical Society Board members hope that the recently issued $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the perpetrator will help bring about justice. Anyone with information that may aid in the capture of the individuals involved in the break-ins should call the Walla Walla Sheriff's Department at 524-5400.