Claysburg Area Public Library Burglarized

A burglary at the Claysburg Area Public Library caused nearly $500 in damages but netted the thief or thieves very little return for their efforts.

According to Library Director Jane Knisely, when she opened the library on the morning of Wednesday, April 26, she was greeted by shattered glass on the floor and the window facing the side parking lot broken.

"It's a double-pane window so whatever was used to break it had to hit it hard. I found glass in the middle of the library, so it flew pretty far," she said.

Knisely said entry was gained by reaching through the broken window to unlock it, then opening the window and crawling through. Knisely said it was likely that no neighbors heard the window being shattered because of the noise of a generator in the side lot. And with the road in front of the library closed due to bridge construction, there was no chance of any passerby seeing the burglary happen.

"It was a perfect time to do something like this with the road closed and the big generator running so it was doubtful anyone saw or heard anything," she said.

Once inside, the burglar bypassed the computers and went straight to the cash register and removed the cash tray. A donation jar on the counter was also stolen.

"None of the computers, iPads, or books were touched and other than the window, no vandalism," Knisely said.

Knisely said it appears the burglar couldn't figure out the deadbolt to the front door so with cash box and donation jar in hand, climbed out through the same window they came in through, but in doing so lost half their stolen loot.

"They dropped the donation jar climbing out the window and it shattered in the parking lot and spilled the coins," she said. "They didn't stick around to pick them up."

Knisely said for all their efforts, the thief made off with $10.

"We only keep $10 in the register to make change," she said. "You are not going to get much money by breaking into a library."

Knisely said it cost $295 to replace the window and about $150 for a new cash register. She said the library is going to upgrade its security system. Greenfield Township police are investigating.