Burglars take safe from Big River Diner

It got worse. Sometime during the night, the burglars had carted off the restaurant's safe. That in itself was no easy feat, and it suggested that at least two people had to be involved. According to Allen, the safe that was stolen was five feet tall and three feet wide.

"Two people, maybe, could lift it, or at least maneuver it," she said.

Allen said the safe was an American Securities brand, and about 25 years old.

In a break for police, the safe itself was discovered late Sunday, off Canyon Road in Appleton.

"The safe was penetrated, and it was empty," Allen explained. "They had a lot of time with it. They destroyed the entire front door of the safe."

Allen estimated that $2,100 was lost, as well as a number of checks. She advised any customers who may have written checks at the restaurant on Thursday, Aug. 30, to consider putting a "stop payment" order on them as a precaution. The checks are normally stamped "for deposit only," but nevertheless it is possible they could be negotiated.

Allen added that this break-in was the first since the restaurant became the Big River Diner in 1996.

"We feel fortunate about that. There have been other burglaries and vandalism in the area. but not before in our history," she said.

Despite losing the cash and the safe, Allen said the impact on Friday's operations provided the most immediate headache.

"The most inconvenient thing was, they took the keys to the drive-through and the beer cooler. We couldn't open the drive-through for half a day on Friday," she said.

The Bingen-White Salmon Police Department is investigating the crime. Anyone with any information on the break-in is asked to call the police at 493-1177.