UPDATE 1/30/2012 10:50 pm

Its been more than a month since thieves broke into the Veterans Museum and stole valuable memorabilia.

But the museum is warding off any future crime with a brand new security system.

"All of our items will be more secure, safe from thieves and that type of thing definitely. So I think somebody would think twice before coming in here now, definitely," says museum employee Rejeana Jackson.

The museum is equipped with all the latest technology. Infrared cameras in every room, motion detectors on all doors and windows, and a loud siren to alert anyone in the area of a break-in. And most importantly museum employees can access the system anywhere with an internet connection.

"No never thought in a million years that somebody would come in to a museum that honors veteran's and steal items. They fought for our country, they made sacrifices for us so why would somebody steal from them? You know it just makes no sense to me. That's almost as bad as stealing from a church as far as I'm concerned," says Jackson.

The Wood County Commission is funding the upgrade and paying for the first year of service. Museum employees say no step is too far to keep this memorabilia safe.

"I don't think anything would be too much when it comes to making sure this type of memorabilia is secure and safe from thieves and that type of thing. I would go to any extent for that matter," Jackson says.

The museum is set to re-open February 6th.
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UPDATED: 1/25/2012 11:34

One of the two suspects connected to the Veterans Museum robbery found himself back in court Wednesday.

According to the Wood County Prosecutor, Mathew Depew filed a motion to have his bond reduced, but Judge Reed denied that request.

Police found guns stolen from the Veterans Museum of the Mid-Ohio Valley on Depew.

He faces a laundry list of charges including burglary and robbery and is being held at the North Central Regional Jail.
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UPDATED: 1/23/2012

A mother and daughter are honored.
They helped get the Veteran's Museum of the Mid Ohio Valley's stolen guns back into the rightful hands.
Authorities show their appreciation for taking the time to care.

"We wanted to do something that showed that the Wood County Sheriff's Office cared and let the public know that these citizens cared enough that they took time from their schedule to do the right thing," say Wood County Sheriff Jeff Sandy.

Sheriff Sandy says the guns could have easily ended up in the wrong hands.

Ashley Jones and Lisa Meeks found the stolen guns from the Veteran's Museum in a bag-- in the middle of Dutch Ridge Road.

"There was a car coming and I was like.. I'm not running over it. We didn't know what it was so we thought we would move it and when we went to move it it was heavy so we unzipped it and saw what it was," explains Jones.

Instincts then kicked in calling 911.
At the time they didn't know they were the stolen Veteran's Museum guns.

The Director of the Museum Gary Farris also showed his appreciation to the women and says he couldn't be happier.

"Great, we're elated. We got everything back except a baounette. We're glad you called and it means a lot to a lot of people in this town," explains Farris.

While the guns have been recovered-- investigators are still asking for tips on suspects or who may have left the bag.

UPDATE: 01/17/2012 11:37 PM

Police recovered all six guns stolen from the Mid-Ohio Valley's Veterans Museum.

The Wood County Sheriff's Office responded to a call about 4 guns found on the side of the road by a citizen.

When deputies arrived they were given a guitar case containing the 4 weapons. The weapons are now in evidence.

Detective Edelen confirms the weapons are from the Veterans Museum breaking and entering. The guns will now be processed for fingerprints by the department's evidence technician.

With the find, all six weapons stolen from the museum have been recovered. The weapons are evidence for the ongoing investigation.

But museum director Gary Farris says several items are still missing, including a World War II Japanese Bayonet from the museum plus about 40 knives and 20 sets of camo clothing from the museum gift shop.
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Video lottery funds will now help protect the Veterans Museum of the Mid Ohio Valley.

With the support of the community-- the museum will be adding a new security system. The Wood County Commissioners agree to donate $3,200 to ensure the safety for the future of the museum and local veteran's memories.

"They've always been a good supporter of the museum. We do bring in out of town visitors. We're just part of the community, you know, the veterans community which is a large portion of people here in Wood County," explains the Director of the Museum, Gary Farris.

The museum plans to waste no time getting started-- already having measurements taken and putting in orders.

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The reward is still out there.
Police are still asking for tips about the recent Veterans Museum of the Mid Ohio Valley break in.

Two men have been found in possession of items stolen from the Veteran's Museum of the Mid-Ohio Valley but there's still more arrests to be made.

"Some of the more important items... three of the riffles that were in here are still missing and a replica of a machine gun is missing and probably another forty knives and some of the uniforms that we replicate, uniforms that we sell in our gift shop still missing," says the Museum's Director, Gary Farris,

Still up for grabs a five-thousand dollar reward plus more...

"I think that tattoo shop is still offering $1,000 worth of tattoos and the American Legion in Williamstown is offering $500 so there's a lot out there, but the police have not gotten any viable tips," explains Farris.

Farris says the whole community has really stepped up to help honor these veterans by taking an interest in this break in.

Again, anyone with information on this case is urged to contact Detective Seth Cook or any at The Parkersburg Police Department at 304-424-8444.

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UPDATE: 12/30/2011 6:22 PM

Matthew Depew is facing felony charges of Grand Larceny for being in possession of some items stolen from the museum earlier this month.

Depew was arraigned just moments ago at the Wood County Magistrate's Court.

He is being held on a $50,000 bond.

Depew also faces e8 other misdemeanor charges including fleeing arrest.

Stay tuned to WTAP as we continue to follow this case.
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UPDATE: 12/27/2011 6:20 PM

Pistols, rifles, uniforms, and knives all stolen in an early morning break in at the Veterans Museum of The Mid Ohio Valley. "I came into this room where the rifles were and saw that they were all gone and then we saw that they had raked out all the knives in the display cases," Museum Director, Gary Farris says.

But these weren't just ordinary guns and knives. They have historic value. "It's the items that were taken, especially that hand gun. It had a great story to go with it. You can buy another hand gun but it's not the same. It's not the gun that was picked up on Omaha Beach."

The thieves broke the lock on a case, but they didn't take anything out of it, which makes Farris believe, they weren't collectors. They were just after the weapons. Guns and knives to young people, you know that's what they went after, all the weapons."

William Joseph Kerns was arrested for having of one of the stolen guns and two knives, but there's much more missing. Farris is confident more arrests will be made, "The persons that did this are probably the most hated people in the valley right now. I don't own this museum, I just run it. We're a non profit organization. All this basically belongs to the community."

Again, anyone with information on this case is urged to contact Detective Seth Cook or any at The Parkersburg Police Department at 304-424-8444.

UPDATE: 12-27-2011

The Parkersburg Police Department and Wood County Sheriff's Office worked together to make an arrest in the Veterans Museum break-in case.

On Saturday, December 24th, William Joseph Kerns was arrested on charges of being in possession of one firearm and two knives, both confirmed to be items stolen from the museum. Out on bond today, Kerns has not been directly linked to the break-in itself, however. Investigations continue.

UPDATE: 12-22-2011

Parkersburg attorney David Huffman is offering $5,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for breaking in to the Veterans Museum of the Mid-Ohio Valley.

Huffman says it is about more than just the financial loss to the museum, it's about the history that was stolen.

"It is about veterans stories and they do their best telling the veterans stories about the units and they have the memorabilia to go along with just to help bring out the story. By taking that they hurt a lot of people in this community," says Huffman.

The investigation by the Parkersburg Police Department continues. If you have any information, call the department at 304-424-8444.

An early morning breaking and entering at the Veterans Museum of the Mid-Ohio Valley has netted thieves thousands of dollars of what the museum's director calls "irreplaceable" weapons.

Sgt. Greg Collins of the Parkersburg Police Department estimates the value of the guns taken at between $8-10,000. Some money was taken during the early morning robbery as well.

"Preliminary information is that four (4) rifles, one (1) pistol, ten (10) sets of battle dress uniforms (BDU’s), and an unknown number of knives and bayonets were taken," Sgt. Collins said in a police department news release. "The pistol was reportedly that of a German officer found on the beach during D-Day. All weapons were functional except for one replica rifle."

Museum Director Gary Farris says the suspects were able to break down the back door to enter the museum located on Seventh Street. There are surveillance cameras in the building, but Farris says they were inoperable at the time.

A police crime scene investigator was at the museum Wednesday morning, processing the scene. Aside from the back door, there was minor damage to the building.

If you have any information on this break-in and robbery, you can contact the Parkersburg Police Department at (304) 424-8444.