Burglars Ransack Businesses, Steal Tequila And Cigarettes

EVAN, Minn. (WCCO) -- Two businesses and a church in Evan, Minn. were burglarized early Saturday morning and police said it might be connected to other burglaries the previous weekend.

The burglaries happened sometime after 3 a.m. in the small town near Sleepy Eye. The most the burglars stole was a bottle of Patron tequila, several boxes of cigarettes and some change from a bar. The business was also ransacked.

Two checkbooks were taken from a body shop, but they were later recovered on Highway 68. The church was ransacked but nothing was taken.

According to authorities, someone saw a minivan with dark, tinted back windows driving around the businesses on Friday afternoon. The witness said three men were in the van and they would stop behind each business. When the driver saw the witness watching him, he drove fast out of town.

Authorities said footprints at the scene appear to match footprints from burglaries in Blue Earth County the previous weekend.