x
Breaking News
More () »

Balls, Bats and Break-Ins at Danville Little League

DANVILLE — Officials with Danville Area Little League said for the first time they can remember, someone damaged and stole from league concession stands. ...

DANVILLE -- Officials with Danville Area Little League said for the first time they can remember, someone damaged and stole from league concession stands.

Thieves broke into three concession stands sometime Monday night into Tuesday this week.

At one stand, those crooks stole a heavy safe with money inside.

"Somebody must have come and broken into all the concession stands. They actually ripped the safe, unbolted it from the ground and took it," said Danville Area Little League Vice President Tom Ciccarelli.

Police are investigating and Little League coaches, parents, even players are fuming.

"What is so important that you need to steal money from kids to get it? It's beyond me," said Ciccarelli.

Less than 24 hours after the thefts were discovered, Little League officials said a building at a league softball field was vandalized again.

"We work really hard to maintain the facilities down here. For someone to break in and steal from a youth organization, really is just upsetting and really it's pretty unacceptable," said coach and parent Kyle Gordon.

Some suspect younger people may be involved in the theft, though they think they would have needed a vehicle to transport the heavy safe. And all the other stuff that was stolen.

"They stole a box of hot dogs, a box of M&M's, all my Mountain Dew, and beef jerky. That's what they put together," said Marsha Albertson who runs the concession stand.

Little League officials said the thefts and vandalism come in the midst of their capital campaign. They're trying to raise $250,000 to put up new lights, pave the parking lot, and build a new field.

"Any money you raise to make improvements makes things better. It just makes things better. It's hard to imagine somebody steals from kids," said Ciccarelli.

Danville police did not want league officials to reveal just how much money was stolen.

Before You Leave, Check This Out