MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa — Sometime Monday night or early Tuesday, someone broke into Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 839 in Marshalltown. The thieves took the safe and nothing else. The safe contained some cash and documents for the Post.

This break-in is one of at least four burglaries in this region of the state since Christmas. In Marshalltown nothing else in the building was disturbed besides the safe.

“Nothing that we could find apparently they weren’t interested in. We don’t have that much stuff here we got, you know, the pictures and who would want that really,” said Roger Dirks, Marshalltown VFW Quartermaster. “Please bring back the papers that were in the safe, because we need the papers at least as much as we need cash, but we need those papers back.”

In Newton thieves broke into American Legion Post 111 in Newton. They were able to make off with some gambling machines, which contained around $500. The post did not own the machines, so they sustained no loss.

“We were hit Christmas morning by two lowlifes with crowbars, hoodies, and masks,” said Post Commander Jerry Nelson. “They appeared to be familiar with theft, our cameras are pretty good, but they had masks, gloves, and hoodies.”

The Newton suspects were driving a dark colored F-150 pickup with distorted plates.

There were also reports of break-ins at the American Legion in Gladbrook and Garwin. Garwin City Clerk Michelle Vaverka said the theft happened last Thursday. The burglary did not net anything of value, but they did extensive damage to the door.

“All these veterans up here at this post have served overseas and they served in wartime and to be mistreated like this, I don’t like it,” said Rick Johnson, a Marshalltown VFW member. “All these guys up here have been like brothers to me. I’ve leaned on them to help me through different times when I was down and sad.”

The Marshalltown VFW post is struggling to get by, so the loss of cash was big. Even as members met on Friday, a donation came in to encourage the VFW from the Marshalltown American Legion Auxiliary.

In Marshalltown the VFW is hoping whoever took their safe, will at least return the documents. That includes the deed and abstract to the VFW building and the title to the van they use to transport the honor guard to funerals and parades.

If anyone wants to make a donation to help the Marshalltown VFW, you can send it to Marshalltown VFW PO box 1204 Marshalltown Iowa, 50158.

Iowa News: