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Thieves broke into Banks Lake Golf Course office sometime Sunday night and took the safe from the premises.

It was the second time this year that the course’s safe has been taken. The first time was in January.

Police said this time the safe was found along the 18th hole at the golf course. Golfers reported the smashed safe about 11:30 a.m. Monday.

Police Chief Mel Hunt stated that the total money taken was just over $500. About $300 of it was in the safe at the time, and another $200 was taken from various locations.

Thieves smashed, the handicapped and service door. Last time the door was smashed the course had to pay for a new $2,600 door, plus installation costs. Only part of that cost was reimbursed by insurance. The total money lost on the first burglary was $2,800, and that safe has never been located.

Last weekend, thieves used a heavy pry bar to dislodge the safe from the floor to which it was bolted. They used the bar and other tools found to smash the bottom of the safe open after it was carried to the 18th hole on a folding cot.

Chief Hunt said that records show that a police patrol had been in the area about 3:30 a.m. the morning of the loss.

This time the thieves smashed open the same door, using a heavy pry bar.

The service and handicapped entry is hidden from view of anyone driving by.

Hunt stated that the safe weighed about 100 pounds and wasn’t nearly as heavy as the first one.