WESTMORELAND, ONEIDA CO. --
A burglary at an Oneida County diner is hurting much more than just the restaurant. Sheriff's Deputies say an unknown number of people stole $1,000 from Sweet Old Memories on Route 5 in Westmoreland. That money was meant for an animal rescue organization and the family members of a couple killed in a motorcycle crash.
The owner of the diner, Jack Maine, can't believe he was burglarized, but says it’s not the money stolen from him that makes him mad.
Outside the diner, a trail of loose change leads up to the window where a burglar, or burglars broke in. Maine says they couldn’t get through the door, so instead cut a screen in the side window.
Maine says it happened sometime between late Tuesday night and early Wednesday morning. When he opened up shop on Wednesday, he knew something was wrong. "I was kind of in shock at first,” he said.
But what's even more shocking is what the thieves stole; hundreds in cash, including $750 from the diner office, and two charity collection jars filled with money, meant to help kids and animals in need.
"That's what bothers me, they steal from charity,” said Kathleen Decker from Vernon Center. “And times are tough, and instead of people going around robbing charity, they should be helping people."
One jar was for Spring Farm Cares, an animal sanctuary in Clinton.
The other was for the five Jayson children, whose parents died in a motorcycle crash in the spring. Maine says the family is fighting to stay together, and the community was chipping in loose change and dollars to help.
"The biggest thing that upset me was the Jayson family. The donation pot was for their 5 kids. Now some thief comes in and actually takes it,” said Ron Decker.
And the diner's owner says this was it's way to give back to neighbors in need. “That angered me more than the money they took from us,” said Maine. “This was money for the children, which to me is pretty low-life if they take that."
Maine says this won't stop him or the community from supporting those in need. He plans to place new collection jars on the counter of his diner very soon.
Meanwhile, if you know anything about what happened, police want to hear from you. You can contact the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office at (315) 765-2218.
