craigdailypress.com

When Mel Shockley heard his phone ring at 6:50 a.m. Thursday, he had a gut feeling something wasn't right.

Shockley, post commander of American Legion Post 627 in Craig, said the call was from one of the workers at the Interfaith Food Bank. The Food Bank is inside the Legion's post, 1055 Moffat County Road 7.

"I knew something was up for her to be calling at 10 till 7 a.m.," Shockley said.

As it turns out, Shockley's gut feeling was right.

Someone tried to break in to the Legion on Wednesday night.

It was the second time someone damaged the building since the Legion took over in January.

The window was broken near the Legion's swimming pool Wednesday, sending shards of glass into the pool and hot tub.

The metal bars that cover the window were also bent.

Workers spent Thursday clean--ing about two pounds of glass from the hot tub, Shockley said.

Nothing was stolen from inside the post, Shockley said.

"Something must have scared them off," he said. "They were set to go in."

The damage could cost as much as $500, Shockley said, but it probably won't cost as much as they expected, because workers didn't have to drain the pool.

"We're not going to be hurt as bad as we thought," Shockley said.

The Legion has the pool rented for a party this weekend, and Shockley said the party will go on as planned.

The Moffat County Sheriff's Office is investigating the break-in.

Sheriff's Sgt. Tim Jantz said there wasn't a lot of physical evidence at the scene, but deputies are following up on some information.

"We're working on some leads," Jantz said.

Shockley said he is willing to give a cash reward to anyone who gives the police information that leads to an arrest and conviction.

The break-in hurts not only the Legion, but the senior citizens and nonprofits who use the pool, Shockley said.

"It hurts us all," he said. "It hurts the general public."

Brandon Johansson can be reached at 824-7031, ext. 213, or bjohansson@craigdailypress.com.