Officials in four counties investigate burglary string

Damage to the rear entrance door at Spenler Tire East in Iowa City, after a recent string of break-ins in Eastern Iowa. (Kathleen Serino/The Gazette)

Authorities in four Eastern Iowa counties are putting their heads together to investigate a rash of  break-ins at numerous small businesses, beginning late Sunday.

Sometime between late Sunday night and early Monday morning, eight pharmacies, convenience stores and one bar were broken into, and it appeared as if the cash registers were the main target. Most of the break-ins occurred in Jones County, but there were also break-ins in Linn, Johnson and Delaware counties. One of the attempts failed.

“We’ve been in contact with all the agencies involved in this,” Jones County Sheriff Greg Graver said, adding those involved are spending the day sharing information in order to help identify vehicles and subjects involved in the incidents.

Authorities said Tuesday they’re unsure how many subjects were involved, but Mount Vernon police said they believe it was just one person involved with a break-in at the Shepley Pharmacy at 3:43 a.m. Monday.

It appeared as if this the most damage was done at this location, 113 First St. E in Mount Vernon. The window of the store’s front door was smashed and $734 was missing from the register, as well as controlled substance items used for manufacturing methamphetamine, police said.

Jones County had four break-ins, Graver said. Cash registers were stolen from the Grove Bar and Grill in Scotch Grove, and the C Store in Martelle were stolen. There was less than $200 in the bar’s missing cash register, and deputies later found the C Store’s register along Highway 6 north of Mount Vernon. Only coins were left behind.

Graver said investigators are also working looking at the city of Monticello’s street cameras to determine possible identities from those involved with breaking into a rear door at Long Drug. Although nothing was taken — the cash register was empty at the time of the break-in at 12:25 a.m. — authorities believe the register was the primary target.

Wyoming Drug in Wyoming, Ia., was another attempt, but because they’ve had similar burglaries in the past, security glass was installed and it appeared as if the subjects gave up trying to gain access, Graver said.

According to a news release from the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office, a small amount of cash was taken from Mac’s Mini Mart in Hopkinton. RJZ Express convenience store in Solon had some cash taken from two registers and some cigarettes were stolen. A manager said one subject entered with a crow bar and was out within two minutes.

The break-ins have caused the owners of at least one business to reconsider their security. Rick Speers, owner of Spenler Tire in Iowa City, said he is definitely repairing the lights around the entrances and installing an alarm system after $240 was stolen from the office. Sometime before 6 a.m. Monday, a worker noticed the back door had been forced open and the cash register was also wrenched open with what they believe to be a crowbar.

Jones County

• C Store, 400 S Military St., Martelle (about $200 and cash register stolen)
• Longs Drugs, 419 E First St., Monticello, 12:25 a.m. (forced entry, nothing stolen)
• The Grove Bar and Grill, 11666 County Rd. E17, Scotch Grove (less than $200 and cash register stolen)
• Wyoming Drug, 156 Main St., Wyoming (failed entry)

Johnson County

• Spenler Tire East, 1455 S First Ave., Iowa City, before 6 a.m. Nov. 14($240 cash stolen from register)
• RJZ Express, 110 S Market St., Solon (small amount of cash and cigarettes stolen)

Linn County

• Shepley Pharmacy, 113 First St. E, Mount Vernon ($734 register cash and controlled substance items stolen)

Delaware County

• Mac’s Mini Mart, 104 Third St. SE, Hopkinton (small amount of register cash stolen)