BARKEYVILLE, Venango County — This was no simple theft.

A flatbed trailer loaded with steel beams and valued at $27,000 was stolen from a parking lot in the borough near the Venango-Butler County line, state police said.

Investigators believe the property was taken between March 30 and Monday from the lot on Route 8 near the Fyda Freightliner dealership and repair shop where the trailer had been parked for several months.

The stolen beams, about 40 feet long, are used for building construction. They were on a 1999 Trailstar trailer.

Police do not know how someone removed the loaded trailer.

Anyone with information is asked to call state police at the Franklin barracks at 814-676-6596.

HARRISBURG — The state Department of Community and Economic Development made two recent grants in Butler County.Evans City and Seven Fields were given $12,000 for the creation of the Evans City Seven Fields Regional Police Department. The money will help pay some startup costs such as buying technology, communications and safety equipment.The county was awarded $14,000 to prepare an updated comprehensive plan that will focus on opportunities and impacts to the county due to natural gas development.