Many people in the Cedar Park Christian community are baffled as to who would steal an 800-pound safe from their school, according to athletic director Bill Bettinger.

Bothell Police Detective Sgt. Elmer Brown said his office is following up an anonymous tip, but otherwise he added he could release little information on the ongoing investigation into the theft from the Bothell school.

Brown said the theft took place about 2 a.m. Nov. 2. Security cameras caught what Brown said appears to be four suspects making their way into the school and heading to Cedar Park’s finance office.

Brown said the suspects forced open the door to the office, which is where the safe was located. While many media reports have given the weight of the safe as 1,000 pounds, Brown said his information is that the safe weighed around 800 pounds. He said the safe was 4 1/2 feet by 3 feet in diameter. In any case, Brown said the suspects used a Dumpster to remove the safe from the building.

Brown added it is unclear if the Dumpster was inside the building or was brought in specifically to help remove the safe. Brown said police had not been given a list of the safe’s contents, but were told it contained various valuables.

According to Brown, there have been a number of other thefts at churches in the greater Seattle area recently. He said no one knows at this point if the Bothell theft is related, but Brown added that question is under investigation.

Bettinger said the school sent out a mass e-mail to all students’ parents to inform them of the wrongdoing.

Cedar Park Pastor Craig Gorc told KOMO News he feels the theft may have been an inside job.

The Reporter will follow up on this story as more details become available.