American Legion Post 173 in Holiday was packed for breakfast on New Year’s Day, but there was only one thing on everyone’s minds.

“Everywhere you go, they’re talking about it,” bartender Debra Nelms said. “You can hear them.”

  • Brazen burglar steals $10,000 from American Legion post 
  • Burglary took place on Dec. 15
  • Burglar cut hole in roof to steal safe

They’re talking about a burglary that happened there on December 15.

A burglar cut a hole in the roof, made their way through the attic area and cut a second hole in the ceiling to drop into a back office. Once inside, they grabbed a small safe containing $10,000 in cash and hoisted it back through the hole in the ceiling.

The burglary took about one minute and was caught on surveillance cameras.

"Somebody knew the layout of the building,” Mark Eherts, who does maintenance at the post, said. “It wasn’t just a random job. It’s someone who knows the building."

Eherts said most of the money inside the safe was raised to provide service dogs to disabled veterans.

"It’s sickening,” Eherts said. “It’s sickening because we raise money for the vets that serve us and we are trying to give back and someone comes in and takes the money and go."

The thief left a power saw behind on the roof.

The American Legion post added a camera on the roof to bulk up security.

Two weeks after the burglary, the VFW across the street was also burglarized.

"It’s just crazy,” Nelms said. “I just can’t believe this. It’s scary."

The Pasco County Sheriff’s Office said the burglar was picked up by a red-colored Toyota Tundra that fled east bound on Bartelt Road.

If you have any information, call 1-800-706-2488 or leave a tip on the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office website.