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WEBVTT THINK THE MAN MAY HAVE SCOPED OUT POST 10727 THIS IS HERE AT THE END OF GILMORE LAKE ROAD. HE WAS ABLE TO AVOID OUTDOOR SURVEILLANCE CAMERAS, AND EVEN CUT CABLES, BUT HE MISSED ONE INSIDE. -- O CAMERA INSIDE. BUSTING, PRYING, AND EVENTUALLY HAMMERING INTO A LOCKED CABINET, AN OFFICE CAMERA INSIDE THIS BELLEVUE VFW POST CATCHES A CROOK HELPING HIMSELF TO A LOCKBOX INSIDE A PLACE DEDICATED TO HELPING OTHERS. >> IT MAKES ME ANGRY. IT REALLY DOES. CAMILA: POST COMMANDER CHUCK MULLIGAN SAYS THEY’RE NOW STRAPPED FOR CASH AFTER THE 2:30 A.M. BREAK-IN ON FRIDAY. >> HE WENT OVER TO THE GAMING DEVICE THAT WE HAD ON THE BAR OVER THERE, COMPLETELY SHATTERED THAT ON THE FLOOR, GOT THE CASH OUT OF THAT. CAMILA: MULLIGAN SAYS THE THIEF ALSO FORCED OPEN THE JUKE BOX, AND DART MACHINES, LOOKING FORM MONEY. HE SAYS THE LOCKBOX HE TOOK FROM THE OFFICE HAD NEARLY A THOUSAND DOLLARS OF SCHOLARSHIP MONEY FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS. >> TAKING MONEY AWAY FROM KIDS AND OTHER VETERANS, AND IT’S JUST NOT RIGHT. CAMILA: VOLUNTEERS THINK THE BURGLAR GOT IN THROUGH THIS ON LEFT WINDOW. YOU CAN STILL SEE HIS FOOTPRINT LEFT ON THIS DUSTY STILL. ULTIMATELY, LEAVING A MARK ON MUCH MORE. VOLUNTEERS ESTIMATE THE RAID PUT THEM OUT FINE THOUSAND DOLLARS. >> WE DON’T GENERATE A LOT OF FUNDS, SO ANY LITTLE BIT THAT IS -- ESTIMATE THE RATE PUT THEM OUT $20,000. THE LOCKS WILL BE NEW, BUT THE VETS HERE, ENCOURAGE THE THIEF TO MAKE ONE MORE TRI DOWN. >> COME ON DOWN, INTRODUCE YOURSELF. WE WOULD LIKE TO MEET YOU. CAMILA: A FUNDRAISER IS ALREADY ON THE CALENDAR TO HELP THIS BELLEVUE POST GET BACK ON ITS FEET, THE VETS WILL HAVE A SPAGHETTI FEED HERE SATURDAY, JANUARY 26. THERE’S MORE INFORMATION ON THAT AND OTHER WAYS YOU CAN HELP IN THIS STORY ON KETV.COM

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The Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 10727, which has been serving veterans for 20 years, is picking up the pieces after a recent break-in.A man broke into the establishment and robbed the post, located near 25th and Gilmore Lake Road in Bellevue, around 2:30 a.m. Friday."It makes me angry, it really does," Post Commander Chuck Mulligan said.Officials said the thief busted into the office, smashed a cabinet lock with a hammer, and stole the post's lockbox.The thief also broke open dart machines, the jukebox and other games.He also tried to get into a safe behind the bar, but snapped the key in the process, Mulligan said."He has no integrity. There are better ways to make a living than, you know, stealing from people who give so much back," Mulligan said.Mulligan and other veterans believe the man scoped out the post ahead of time, knowing where to cut cables and how to avoid outdoor surveillance cameras. Mulligan also believes the man may have even come in during business hours to unlock the window he'd later crawl in through.A dusty footprint was left on a stool underneath the window, and the window's screen was thrown into the frozen lake.Volunteers estimate the burglar caused around $15,000 in damage and walked away with more than $3,000 in cash.Some of that cash was dedicated to scholarship funds for high school students."We have been closed and taxes are coming up," Mulligan said, "we still have electric bills and gas and whatnot to pay."A spaghetti feed fundraiser and a GoFundMe page has been set up to help the post get back on its feet.The spaghetti feed will take place at the post, 9501 S. 25th Street, from noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday, January 26. If you can help the post with food or raffle items or are interested in donating outside of the GoFundMe page, contact volunteers at 402-291-3437.