Thieves stealing food, fine money from Cape Girardeau Public Library

Over the past month, the Cape Girardeau Public Library has been the victim of several break-ins, resulting in the theft of more than $2,000 and food belonging to employees.

An assistant director at the library first noticed cash missing when she was counting the money from fines after returning from vacation, library director Betty Martin said.

At first, employees just moved the fine money to a different drawer, but the thefts occurred again.

"We've tried locking it up in a variety of places," Martin said.

The most recent burglary occurred sometime Monday night, said Cpl. Adam Glueck, spokesman for the Cape Girardeau Police Department.

In that incident, nothing was reported stolen and there was no obvious sign of forced entry into the building, but library staff reported that things had been moved around in the offices. The locks don't appear to be seriously damaged, but there were marks on them, Martin said.

About $2,700 in cash collected for library fines was discovered to have been taken within the past month, Martin said.

"I've been here for 15 years, and we've never had money stolen, never," Martin said.

The library has bought a floor safe to prevent future thefts, Martin said.

In addition, staff began to notice that cabinets and desks had been rifled through and that food, such as a half-eaten leftovers and string cheese, disappeared from the staff refrigerator. On one occasion, someone's chicken salad was devoured and the empty container returned to the shelf in the refrigerator, Martin said; on another, a granola bar was taken from her office.

Martin said the only theft in the library she'd ever heard about was before she started her work there and involved money taken from someone's purse.

bdicosmo@semissourian.com

388-3635

Pertinent address:

711 N. Clark Ave., Cape Girardeau, MO