On Tuesday morning, Elsberry citizens were baffled when they found crime tape wrapped around city hall.

According to authorities, the city hall was broken into between midnight and 4 a.m. Tuesday morning. The suspect or suspects broke a side window to gain access to the building. Upon arriving to work, city employees found the aftermath.

"Some of the employees had shown up for work this morning and discovered the building had been broken into," said Detective Shayne Duryea, of the Lincoln County Sheriff's Department, in a television interview on Tuesday. "There was extensive damage throughout the inside of the building."

"I think that everyone was shocked that it happened," said Elsberry Mayor Carla Potts. She continued, saying that they were very confident in the law enforcement agencies on the case.

Representatives of the Elsberry Police Department, the Lincoln County Sheriff's Department and Missouri State Highway Patrol were present throughout the day.

Elsberry City Hall was closed on Tuesday, allowing authorities to gather evidence and investigate the scene. The office was also closed on Wednesday for repairs and cleaning.

The motive behind the break-in is still unknown.