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Bella Vista Historical Museum looking at better security after time capsule theft

The time capsule, stolen on Oct. 26, contained documents detailing the year Bella Vista became a city.

BELLA VISTA, Ark. — On Oct. 26, the Bella Vista Historical Museum said a time capsule from 2007 was stolen from their building. Now, the museum is hoping to raise money and increase security.

Dale Phillips, Co-President of the Bella Vista Historical Society, the group who oversees the museum, said the capsule was supposed to be opened in the year 2107, 100 years after Bella Vista officially became a city. Due to the burglary, the contents inside were discovered 83 years too early.

“Primarily documents related to the incorporation, who was responsible for it... newspaper clippings of the development of the idea of incorporation and how it went from a village to a city,” Phillips said. “There were also some artifacts. I believe there was a pen and a few other related items that 100 years from now might be ancient history, nothing of particular monetary value.”

Phillips said he believes the time capsule was stolen because the suspect may have thought it contained money. 

The Bella Vista Police Department (BVPD) told 5NEWS that there was an active warrant for a suspect on the charges of commercial burglary, theft of property, criminal mischief, and criminal trespassing. 

“We're taking the step to make sure nothing like this ever happens again,” Phillips said. 

BVPD said that they were able to recover the contents of the time capsule after another agency performed a traffic stop but were unable to locate the capsule itself. They said it is likely damaged and destroyed. 

Phillips said being a nonprofit run by 30 volunteers, the museum relies heavily on community support. He said they are now seeking $3,000 in donations to help bolster the museum’s security. 

“Increasing surveillance, increasing sensitivity, greater strength at the point of entry, basic common-sense stuff that we had already, but we're strengthening them, enhancing them,” Phillips said. 

Phillips added that the museum’s volunteers work hard to preserve the city’s history, and a theft like this has an effect on the whole community. 

“We are the storehouse of the memories of Bella Vista,” Phillips explained. “We are the community's memory, if you want to call it that, we hold that responsibility quite important to us to take care of these memories and to be prepared to share those memories with anyone who comes to visit.”

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