Donation Jar Stolen During Break-in at Wayne County Library

Salem Township, Wayne County - State police in Wayne County are looking for the person who broke into a library early Thursday morning and stole a donation jar.

It happened at the Community Library of Lake and Salem Townships.

Workers say the suspect used a rock to smash through two sets of dollars. Troopers say the bandit is still on the run.

The crime has angered many library workers and patrons.

The donation jar may have only had between $75 and $100 inside but now people in the community want to help raise money for a reward.

"I would like to offer you some money as a reward," Bert Pike of Lake Henry told workers Friday.

As soon as people heard about the break-in, many people came by to see if they could help.

"People have been calling and saying they're sorry to hear what happened and they're very upset," volunteer Mary Gridley said.

There was a steady stream of phone calls all day Friday as people tried to make sense of the burglary and donation jar theft.

"This is something hat somebody had to specifically come down here and do," director Carmela Carman said. "It's not as if we're on a Main Street where people are walking by all the time."

The donation jar was just sitting on the library desk when it was taken.

Library workers say the money would have been used for the library's general expenses.

Over the last few years, this library and others have seen a drop in state funding. That means they're relying more on the community for help.

"It was available. It was visible and that's what it was," Pike said. "Someone maybe hooked on drugs or needed a couple hundred dollars or what."

"I hope they prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law because this is wrong," David Thorngren said.

Anyone with information on the crime is urged to call State Police in Honesdale.