Church bell stolen (7-1-08 9:52 a.m.)

A church official is baffled over the theft Monday night of a brass bell that sat in front of First United Methodist Church in El Centro.

A witness reported seeing two men in a brown Ford Ranger around the vicinity of the 8th Street church at about 10:36 p.m., said Crystal Rivas, administrative assistant. The bell, which has been with the church for an untold amount of time, stands about 3 feet high and about 35-inches in diameter, Rivas said.

"It looks similar to the Liberty Bell," she said.

---- SILVIO J. PANTA, staff writer