By last week, authorities were estimating that about $50,000 had been stolen from Norway’s economic development fund over a period of years.

And, perhaps, when Economic Development Director Deb Wyman finishes her vacation and returns to the U.S., she can explain where the money went.

This seems be a perennial problem in our corner of Maine. About once a year we’re treated to the realization that a substantial number of public dollars are missing.

Last year it was the Moontide Festival in Rumford that came up short. In 2004, SAD 43 Athletic Director Timothy J. McInnis embezzled more than $86,000 from school funds.

In 2003, we learned Viola M. Whitman of West Paris took $81,900 from Tri-Town Ambulance Service. The year before that, a Norlands bookkeeper admitted stealing more than $30,000 from the Livermore historical group.

Last week we learned from state officials that embezzlement is “hard to detect” and is unlikely to be detected in the annual, state-required audit of a town’s books.

“To catch embezzlement, it is helpful to have a few red flags,” said State Auditor Neria Douglass. Basically, that means somebody has to suspect something is wrong before anyone takes a good, hard look.

We’re unsettled by that approach, and we wonder how many embezzlers get away with their crime for each one that is detected and apprehended.

Do we apply the cockroach rule? For each one you see, there are probably hundreds hiding in the walls or behind the kitchen appliances.

We hope not. That may be extreme, but it does make us wonder about the extent of the undetected problem in Maine.

Here’s our suggestion: The state should hire two forensic auditors, accountants trained in detecting embezzlement and other crimes. They could do a small number of unannounced, randomly-selected audits each year of municipal and charitable organizations in Maine.

They would take a long, hard look to make sure that money wasn’t missing and give advice on financial practices that make embezzlement more difficult.

Plus, the practice might deter would-be embezzlers who might think they can work around the cursory annual audits.

Municipalities and organizations also need to be wary of every employee and every volunteer who handles money. No matter how honest, hardworking or well-known the person may be, there’s still the risk of theft.

As the American Red Cross is now finding, when money disappears, so does the public’s trust, and that is much harder to restore.