Sequim’s Veterans of Foreign War Post 4760, 169 E. Washington St., was victim to theft again last Sunday.
Brittany Mathis, president of the VFW auxiliary, said about $700 was stolen from the bar’s safe while members met upstairs for a meeting on May 7.
Surveillance video at the post records a male suspect around 1:20 p.m. on May 7 climbing through a window into the bar and removing the money, leaving in less than a minute span.
Representatives with the post, Mathis said, were upstairs for a meeting at 1 p.m. during the burglary.
Sequim Police Officers describe the suspect as between 5-foot-5 and 5-foot-9, weighing 140-170 pounds with dark hair.
Sgt. Mike Hill said the officers continue to investigate and are following tips.
If you have more information on the suspect, contact Sequim Police at 683-7227.
The burglary follows Rischelle Lea Heaton, 30, of Port Angeles, allegedly embezzling nearly $10,000 from the post by writing herself 32 checks from November 2016-early March. She pleaded not guilty to one count of first-degree theft and 31 counts of forgery and faces a three-day trial scheduled to begin July 17.
Hard times
Matthis, who also works for the post, said she assumes the suspect is someone who knew of the post’s meeting and the business’ layout and routines.
“If you watch the video, he knew exactly where to go,” she said.
The post has had issues with past bartenders and small thefts in the past leading to a large turnover in staff, Mathis said.
“It takes a special person to stay there,” she said.
“I’m a semi-stay-at-home mom and it works with my schedule. You stay there because of its history. My grandparents went there. It’s a piece of history in our community.”
Mathis said because of a mistake by a post staffer, whom they do not believe is a suspect, the safe was unlocked.
The post has recovered some funds through insurance from the embezzlement case, she said, but the business is “barely keeping our doors open at this point.”
“We’re a private club, a place for veterans and their families to go,” Mathis said.
