Laundromat emptied of all cash

(Images courtesy of The Gilford Police Department)

By MICHAEL KITCH, LACONIA DAILY SUN

GILFORD — Lending a twist to "money laundering," two men allegedly emptied the coin boxes on the washers, dryers, money changer and soap dispenser in the laundromat at Patrick's Place around 2:30 p.m. on Sunday and made off with as much as $3,500 in small change and dollar bills.,

Steve Parsons, the owner of the business, said Monday that the pair entered the laundromat, tossed some clothes in a machine and sat down among other customers. Then, as others drifted to the front of the laundromat, one of the men went to the back of the rank of machines and began jimmying the locks on the coin boxes on the washers and dryers while the other kept an eye out. Once they were alone, they opened the coin boxes and emptied the change into a bag and left in what a witness described as a black two-door Honda Civic.

"They didn't leave a thing for me," Parsons said, who added that in the decade he has operated the laundromat only a remote control for the television had been taken.

"This just doesn't happen around here," he remarked. "I was shocked."

Parsons said the security camera recorded the theft and vandalism, and doubted "these guys are from around here. They looked right into the camera." He estimated that the loss and damage could amount to between $6,000 and $7,000 and said the laundromat would be closed for week while the machines are replaced and fitted with alarms.

Gilford Police are asking anyone who can assist in identifying the two men or providing information about their whereabouts to contact the department at 603-527-4737. Parsons has offered a $500 reward for information leading to the arrest of the thieves.