$7,000 in Island Recreation Center funds stolen

Nearly $7,000 was stolen last week from the car of an employee of the Island Recreation Center on Hilton Head Island’s north end.

The money, which belonged to the rec center, was in a bank deposit bag when it went missing Feb. 12, according to a Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office report released Wednesday.

A gold bracelet and earrings valued at more than $1,000 were also stolen from the car.

It is unclear whether the money and jewelry were taken while the vehicle was parked at the rec center or at the employee’s home, the report said.

The employee “could not recall if she locked her vehicle or not,” but did remember parking in an area where “there are no (security) cameras,” the report said.

An officer searched the area around the parking lot but did not find the stolen property.

Island Recreation Association director Frank Soule said Wednesday that cameras will be installed as part of the rec center’s renovation and expansion project, which is scheduled to start in the coming months.

In the meantime, Soule said, “We are trying to get people to be aware of your surrounding and lock your cars.”

“This happens all over the place; we just happened to be the victim this time,” he said. “Hopefully (the police) can catch them before they strike again.”

The following reports were released on Wednesday by the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office:

▪ A leather Prada purse valued at $2,800 stolen Monday from a Hilton Head Island home.

▪ A traffic stop Feb. 12 led to the arrest of a Hilton Head Island man on charges of possession of marijuana and of a stolen handgun.

This story was originally published February 17, 2016 at 3:39 PM with the headline "$7,000 in Island Recreation Center funds stolen."