RUMFORD — The main lodge of the Black Mountain Ski Area was burglarized sometime over the weekend.

“The ski lodge building incurred about $1,700 in damages during the break-in,” said Sgt. Doug Maifeld of the Rumford Police Department, who responded to the incident. “There is nothing reported missing from the building at this time.”

“I received the call of the break-in at 8:15 a.m. (Monday),” Maifeld said. “We believe the incident took place between 5 p.m. Friday and early Monday morning.”

Entry was gained by breaking a slope-side lodge window, Maifeld said.

“I came into the lodge shortly after 8 a.m.,” Shainna Mills, assistant director of the Black Mountain Summer Day Camp, said.

Other damage to the lodge included a smashed window in the interior door leading to the ski shop, another door damaged by prying, and a broken metal security grate in the cafeteria,  Maifeld said.

“Whoever it was who broke in here was clearly only after money,” Jay Jillette, Black Mountain’s building and grounds foreman, said. “The cash registers were the only things that seemed to be of interest as nothing else seems to be taken or tampered with.”

“The thief or thieves got into the ski shop that has lots of merchandise and into the bar area which has lots of beer behind the locked glass door and in neither place did anything appear to be taken,” Jillette said.

“I don’t think this was the brightest of thieves,” Jillette said, “as this is a ski resort and we wouldn’t and don’t have any cash in the registers during the summer.”

“Whoever broke in did leave a souvenir for the police,” Jillette said. “The police found a big hand print on one of the cash registers.”

“We have never had an issue like this in my memory,” Jim Carter, general manager of the ski area, said. “At least since the new lodge was built here seven years ago.”

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