THIEVES STEAL DRUGS, MONEY FROM DRUG TASK FORCE OFFICE

Someone broke into the offices of the Lauderdale County Drug Task Force and
stole marijuana, Oxycontin and money from evidence lockers.

A variety of street drugs and an undisclosed amount of money were taken,
according to police records. Police Chief Rick Singleton said he's asked
the Alabama Bureau of Investigation to investigate.

Task force members worked Sunday night and early Monday morning. Upon
returning to the office at about 3 a.m., officers found that someone
apparently kicked in the office door, said Singleton.

"There were agents in and out of the office all night, but there was a
window of two or three hours when there wasn't anyone there," Singleton said.

Singleton said several businesses near the task force office in downtown
Florence have been burglarized during the past two months.

Florence, Lauderdale County and the University of North Alabama participate
in the drug task force.