Petty cash, contributions stolen from the library

NORTH CANAAN — The Douglas Library was broken into sometime between Sunday and Monday morning, Jan. 29-30. Between $300 and $400 was taken, money that had been contributed to the library plus petty cash.Library Director Norma DeMay said the staff and volunteers are always careful to lock doors and windows and to monitor who comes and goes. She didn’t want to jump to a conclusion, but on Saturday she was troubled by what she called a “suspicious loiterer” who spent a lot of time in the history and magazine section on the west side of the library.He left shortly after DeMay asked if she could help him.Early Monday, the cleaning lady called DeMay after finding wood chips under the circulation desk. A drawer had been pried open. A latch on a window on the west side was later found in the open position. Fingerprints were on the outside of the window but were too smudged for police to take prints. All other windows and doors were locked and there was no forced entry.The Scoville Library in Salisbury has also been robbed of cash on hand, twice in the past month.In addition to the loss of the cash, the library now has to pay to change the locks on all the doors. An envelope with spare keys was in the drawer, and was found ripped open. It is not known if any keys were taken. DeMay plans to look into getting a security system.Already, library friends are stepping up to help, as they did last year when the library was twice hit by lightning. In both instances, funds were collected to help the library pay a $1,000 deductible on each insurance claim. Licensed massage therapist Linda Rossi has been offering chair massages at the library, splitting her proceeds from $1 per minute of massage with the library. During February, she will donate all proceeds to the library to help offset this latest loss. Massages are available on Fridays, 3 to 6 p.m. Walk-ins are welcome, or call 860-824-7863 for an appointment.

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