Huntingdon state police responded Sunday to a call at the Warriors Mark Volunteer Fire Hall after a break in was reported Sunday.
“They only busted a window and didn’t get anything,” said Warriors Mark Fire Chief Roy Ellenberger. “They tried to get into the money box and pried the heck out of it, but couldn’t get into it. The only damage was a smashed window.”
The actors had a plan for what they were going after.
“We had cases of pop and potato chips laying around and they were never touched,” said Ellenberger. “They went after the cash and never got it. Even if they did, we deposit the money daily in the bank and when we opened it up, there was only three dollars in the money box.”
Ellenberger has his suspicions about who the actors are.
“I think it is the kids looking for quick money,” said the chief. “It is getting a lot worse around here. There are people here cleaning trucks and the kids come in and out of here all the time. They want a can of pop and we tell them to go get one and put their money in the box. There is no telling how many people know where the money box is now.”
A couple weeks earlier, the ice machine at the Bald Eagle Volunteer Fire Company was broken into.
According to Bald Eagle chief Scott Illig, there was $80 stolen from the machine and $40 in damage.
“If someone is that desperate for money, call me and we’ll cut them a check,” said Illig. “It is a shame that we try to raise money to protect the community and someone steals from us.”
The $120 in stolen money and damage could fuel one of the trucks.
“Someday their family could be in need,” said Illig. “What would happen if the fire company was unable to respond.”
Many of the Bald Eagle firefighters volunteer their time and bag the ice to help raise money.
“Somebody had a clue of what they were doing,” said Illig. “They knew that Friday night was one of our better nights and it was broken into on a Friday night.”
The Bald Eagle Fire Company operates its ice business on the honor system. Take a bag of ice and pay the money.
“We’re emptying the money every night,” said Illig. “We have local residents keeping an eye on things at the fire house. We are lighting up the parking lot more to make it tougher to steal from us without being recognized.”
