Investigation into museum burglary continues

LIVERMORE FALLS – Police on Thursday said the investigation into last week's burglary at the Maine's Paper & Heritage Museum is ongoing but they have few leads.

 About $500 worth of property and valuables were stolen from the building at 22 Church St., including computer equipment, security cameras, awards, coins and memorabilia inscribed with the International Paper Co. logo. Also taken were a microwave oven, electric coffee pot and other items. There were also signs the intruders made an unsuccessful attempt to pry open a locked filing cabinet, museum director Sherry Judd said.

 “We believe they went in and out of the building several times, but we are not sure what day,” she said.

 She noticed the items missing Tuesday. The museum is open Saturdays from July 4 to Labor Day.

 Chief Ernest Steward Jr. said the break-in appears to have occurred around Aug.26 but retrieving evidence from the scene was difficult since the museum was cleaned before the break-in was discovered.

 The thieves allegedly entered through a cellar window and were able to unlock the door that led into the museum. From there, they likely made several trips to their vehicle that must have been parked in the driveway, Judd said.

 There was no vandalism but there were signs the office was rummaged through.

 “The stolen items won't have any meaning for anyone else but they mean something to us,” Judd said.

 “This is just devastating to us. We don't have a lot of money and rely on donations and grants to keep going,” Judd said. “We will be boarding up the basement windows now and installing a security system.”

 The stolen items include silver dollars encased in plaques, IBM and Dell computers — a black one with two flat-screen monitors and the other was tan-colored, she said.

The computers contained the organization's archive data and other documents but the information was backed up on another system at Judd's home.

 The museum was created to capture the cultural heritage of the paper-making towns and mills along the Androscoggin River and create an interactive museum where visitors can experience life in a paper-making community, according to its website.

 Anyone with information may leave an anonymous message at 592-1807 or call the Livermore Falls Police Department at 897-3424. The investigating officer is Vern Stevens.

 “We would just like to get our items back, no questions asked,” Judd said.