Police have linked a safe found in the Missouri River to a Bismarck church that has been the victim of two burglaries.

Bismarck Police Lt. Dan Donlin said investigators opened the safe and found documents inside linking it to New Song Community Church, 3200 N. 11th Street.

The church has been burglarized twice since late February, but the safe had not been reported missing, Donlin said.

"They hadn't realized it" was missing, he said.

Pastor Larry Jahnke said church officials hadn't realized the safe was missing because it never had been used. It had been given to the church and had been sitting unused for about 10 years, he said.

Jahnke estimated it would take two or three people to lift the safe.

"That safe was very, very heavy," he said.

Investigators are not releasing the contents of the safe, but it contained nothing of significant value, Donlin said.

A Bismarck man called police at 2 p.m. April 6 to report seeing three juveniles throw a safe into the Missouri River near the boat ramp at 2650 Riverwood Drive. The juveniles drove off, and a description of the juveniles and their vehicle has not been released.

The first burglary at New Song Community Church occurred between Feb. 27 and March 2, and about $6,000 worth of recording studio equipment was stolen. The second burglary was reported on April 6 after employees discovered damage to the building, valued at $1,350, and missing property, valued at $1,800.

Jahnke hopes the discovery of the safe will lead to a break in the cases.

"I think God kind of had his hand in it," he said. "I know he did."