BELLA VISTA — The Bella Vista History Museum is seeking the public’s help to increase security at the building after a recent break-in.

A time capsule stored in a fireproof safe was stolen from the museum on Oct. 26, according to museum officials and police. The contents of the capsule were returned to the museum on November 3 after police found it in a police bag inside a white Ford Flex during a traffic stop.

The recovered items were taken to the Bella Vista Police Department, where they were confirmed to be the contents of the time capsule by Xyta Lucas, co-president of the Bella Vista Historical Society, which runs the museum, and Jim Parsons, who donated the safe. and its contents in 2007 when Bella Vista incorporated as a city.

The vault was supposed to remain sealed for 100 years until 2107. Parsons said he paid about $300 for the vault in 2007 and plans to buy a new time capsule vault.

Now, the museum has set up a GoFundMe page to raise about $2,500 to help improve the museum’s security.

Electricians will need to be hired to install additional security cameras that have been ordered, and the plan is to reinforce the back doors to make it harder for someone to break in, Lucas said.

Those who wish to help can donate to gofund.me/3d32467c or stop by the museum with a donation. The museum is located at 1885 Bella Vista Way and is open Wednesday through Sunday from 1-5.

Lucas said he received a call from the museum’s security company around 10:30 p.m. on Oct. 26. She had previously received several calls due to a faulty battery and thought it was another false alarm, so instead of asking the security company to send the police, she decided to check it out herself.

Lucas got to the parking lot and saw the back door open and called the police. Officers came and cleared the building before allowing him to enter. He then checked and found nothing missing except the time capsule.

Police discovered someone had used a crowbar to open the back door.

“Unfortunately, and sadly, we’ve come to the conclusion that it was a visitor to the museum who discovered the place and thought the safe had money in it, which it didn’t,” Lucas said.