Eric Albright, of Vermont State Police, responds to the scene of a fire at the Circle K in Weathersfield, Vt., on Feb. 1, 2017. (Valley News - Jordan Cuddemi) Copyright Valley News. May not be reprinted or used online without permission. Send requests to permission@vnews.com.
Eric Albright, of Vermont State Police, responds to the scene of a fire at the Circle K in Weathersfield, Vt., on Feb. 1, 2017. (Valley News - Jordan Cuddemi) Copyright Valley News. May not be reprinted or used online without permission. Send requests to permission@vnews.com.

Ascutney — Police say someone cut the power, internet and cable lines to the Circle K gas station off Exit 8 in Ascutney early Wednesday morning, broke in and set fire to the store.

The suspect or suspects, who haven’t been identified, also cut the utility lines to the Sunoco across the street on Route 131, but didn’t burglarize the building, according to a Weathersfield Police Department news release.

“We believe the person who gained access to Circle K to commit the burglary may have set the fire,” Weathersfield Police Chief William Daniels said. “It is still under investigation.”

Because the lines were cut, there was no surveillance footage of the incident and no alarms sounded when the person pried the front doors open around 2:30 a.m., Daniels said.

A large police and fire presence was seen along Route 131 near the gas station and convenience store at the Interstate 91 interchange for the better part of Wednesday, and several passersby slowed to catch a glimpse of the damage.

The west side of the structure was charred, and the windows were smashed out. Debris littered the front of the store, which is usually bustling with people getting coffee, breakfast or gasoline throughout the morning hours.

Instead, the store was forced to close. The gas station employees, as well as Circle K’s district manager, lingered in the parking lot; They referred comment to corporate spokeswoman Elizabeth Smith. A phone message left with her requesting comment was not returned.

Vermont State Police troopers canvassed the property for clues on Wednesday.

Vermont State Police Detective Sgt. Eric Albright took photographs and swabbed and dusted the front doors for evidence before Weathersfield firefighters used a reciprocating saw to cut portions of the doors off. Part of the doors that they cut had pry marks and will remain in evidence, another state trooper on scene said.

The Circle K was closed for the night when the break-in and fire occurred.

The Sunoco opened for normal business on Wednesday, the release said.

The Vermont State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigations, an arson investigator and the Weathersfield Police Department are continuing to investigate.

Jordan Cuddemi can be reached at jcuddemi@vnews.com or 603-727-3248.