Graduates help thwart robbery

Robbers stole a safe from a local dental office but were unsuccessful in getting it away, witnesses said.\nThe Sallee Dental Studio, 314 E. 7th St., was the site of the break-in. \nBrian Obolewicz, who graduated Saturday afternoon, saw and reported the break-in.\n"The car was backed into the driveway, and they were robbing the dentists' office so we called the police," Obolewicz said. "We were just on the porch, having a graduation party. They were trying to jam the safe into the (Honda) Accord. The cops came and the car stopped, but the police had to beat on the windshield to get them to come out. We were heading to the bars, but this turned out to be more entertaining."\nPolice blocked off 7th St. between Grant St. and Lincoln Ave. to search the black Honda.\nShelly Sallee, owner of Sallee Dental Studios, said while the incident was unfortunate, he felt lucky nothing was destroyed.\n"They didn't disturb any of our work. The only thing missing is our new sweeper," Sallee said. "I'm glad these guys (next door) were alert. If they could've gotten the safe open inside, they probably wouldn't have tried to drag it out. (The safe) weighs at least a thousand pounds. They must have been grunting."\nThe studio makes inlays, crowns and bridges for dentist offices, and dental-grade gold used in the process was present in the studio. As of 4 a.m., the studio's black industrial safe was still laying on its side in the alley by the building.\nBloomington Police Department could not confirm the status of the case by press time.