NORRIDGEWOCK — Police are trying to determine whether a burglary at Holly & Doug’s Country Diner on Waterville Road is related to other break-ins around the state.
Holly Stebbins, the owner of Holly & Doug’s, said Wednesday that she discovered more than $600 missing from the restaurant on Monday and has surveillance video showing a break-in early Monday morning. The money included about $80 that was to be donated to charity, Stebbins said.
“They took all the donations I have, like $80 in donations,” she said, adding that the theft of the money meant for charity made her angry. “My money is my money, but to take a donation like that, that’s bad.”
The break-in was the second time since April that the diner has been broken into, Stebbins said.
The first time, a locked window was shattered. Nothing was taken then.
Stebbins said someone got in through an open window with a screen on it Monday, taking $600 in cash and another $80 that was to be donated to No Kid Hungry, a fundraising effort by restaurants across the country to end childhood hunger in the U.S. The fundraiser is organized by Share Our Strength, a nonprofit group.
A posting on the diner’s Facebook page includes images taken from a surveillance camera and a video of the break-in around 12:30 a.m. Monday.
Chief Deputy James Ross, of the Somerset County Sheriff’s Office, said the sheriff’s office is investigating the case and has no suspects yet.
“We don’t have much right now,” he said. “It’s still very much an active investigation, and we are in the process of recovering the surveillance video.”
Police are also looking to see whether the break-in is related to others around the state that took place overnight Sunday, Ross said. He said break-ins were reported in Oakland, Pittsfield and Waldo County, as well as at Fonzo’s Pizza, Seafood and More in Norridgewock.
Al Dixon, the owner of Fonzo’s, said there was evidence of a break-in at the restaurant Monday, but nothing was taken. He said he thinks his dogs, a German shepherd named Pork Chop and Molly, a golden retriever, scared the burglar away. Dixon’s home is on the same property about 15 feet away from the restaurant.
“They never got in. Nothing was missing, and we checked it out pretty good. They did not make it in the building,” Dixon said. He said he thinks the attempted break-in was related to the break-in at Holly & Doug’s.
“I’ve never had anything like this happen. I’ve been here almost nine years, and I’ve lived in Maine my whole life,” Dixon said. “I just hope they don’t come back before we get some surveillance. We’re usually home though, and the dogs are pretty sensitive.”
Rachel Ohm — 612-2368
Twitter: @rachel_ohm
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