Staff Reports
Bartholomew County Sheriff deputies are investigating an overnight theft which included someone stealing the Columbus North High School Cross Country state championship trophies.
Deputies were called at 1:57 p.m. Wednesday to an area east of the intersection of East Base Road and County Road North 525W where they spoke with the owner of a vehicle who had been involved in a property-damage accident.
The owner told deputies he had left the vehicle there, and when he returned to get it, the battery, catalytic converter, spare tire and two Columbus North High School Cross Country championship trophies were missing. One of the trophies is believed to be the state championship cross country trophy which the North team won Oct. 31 in Terre Haute.
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The sheriff’s department confirmed that the owner of the vehicle is a Columbus North High School coach, but he has not been named by investigators at this time.
“Stealing another’s property is deliberate disregard of other’s property rights,” said Bartholomew County Sheriff Matthew A. Myers. “This isn’t something that was committed accidentally, and this meanness needs to stop. Stealing two high school trophies is not a prank, it’s theft.”
Myers said the cross country kids worked hard for those trophies and the trophies belong to the athletes and to the school.
North principal David Clark echoed that sentiment.
“I can’t speak for the police, but I’m not into prosecuting or anything,” Clark said. “I just want the trophies back. It’s something they’ve earned. It’s just frustrating.”
A call to North cross country coach Danny Fisher about the incident was not returned before Republic deadline.
North officials said they were looking into talking with Indiana State High School Athletic Association officials to get a duplicate trophy for the team for the state championship. There has been no reward offered at this time for the return of the trophies.
Anyone with information, no matter how seemingly insignificant, about the trophy or car part thefts should contact the sheriff’s department at 812-379-1650 or email: [email protected].
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Anyone with information about the theft of the trophies or car parts should contact the sheriff’s department at 812-379-1650 or email: [email protected]. Tips may be left anonymously.
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