Update: Grace on the Hill church damaged during burglary

Police are following a few leads that they hope will provide insight into who was responsible for a break-in and vandalism rampage inside Grace on the Hill Methodist Church in Corbin last Wednesday.

The debris has been cleared but much of the damage caused by the thieves remained visible to anyone walking through the building.

Assistant Pastor Gus Clouse said the two individuals broke open every door and filing cabinet and even went so far to go through the kitchen cabinets during the four-plus hour burglary.

“They did not touch the sanctuary,” Clouse said.

In the end, Clouse said the burglars tore out and made off with a wall safe with a small amount of cash and additional cash they found in a cash box in Clouse’s office.

“They took the cash out of the box and threw the coins on the floor,” Clouse said.

Video surveillance shows the two masked individuals coming in through the office entrance.

“They pried open the door,” Clouse said when asked how they gained entry.

Several of the interior doors had small windows. Clouse said when the thieves came upon those, they broke out the glass.

After removing the safe, which weighed several hundred pounds, from the building, Clouse said they carried it to a vehicle they had apparently parked on the roadway leading up to Baptist Health Corbin.

“There were drag marks from the safe on the carpeting and in the parking lot,” Clouse said adding the safe has not been recovered.

On Tuesday, Coy Wilson, Public Affairs Officer with the Corbin Police Department, said witnesses saw someone loading the safe into a white pick-up truck or SUV early that morning. He said he’s hopeful DNA samples may link the crime to possible suspects.

“They were really messy about what they did,” Wilson said. “I questioned a possible suspect in a junky white pick-up truck who had been at the hospital being treated for a hernia.”

“Nobody’s been charged, but we hope the DNA testing may make a connection.”

Clouse said an estimate of the damage is still being tabulated.

Other valuables inside, including multiple guitars and other musical instruments were untouched.

“They may not have wanted to bother with taking something they would have to deal with later,” Clouse speculated.

Corbin Police are continuing to investigate.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Corbin Police at 528-1122.

Callers may remain anonymous.