Nearly $20,000 Stolen Out of Trenton Resident's Vault

A 58-year-old man reported nearly $20,000 was stolen out of a vault in his basement sometime between May 23 and 28 in the 2200 block of Ruskin Street.

The man told he had been on vacation in Chicago during the time the money was stolen.

He said he and his wife went into the basement where the vault was located at about 9 a.m. May 29 and noticed a hole was knocked out of the cement blocked vault and the vault door was open.

The man said he noticed cardboard boxes in which he’d stored $19,400 were open and empty.

The cash was comprised entirely of one-dollar bills the man had been collecting over many years, according to a Trenton police report.

Several jewelry items were also stolen out of the vault, according to the same report.

Police said the thief likely gained access to the house through a basement window where they found the screen and glass were removed and fresh dirt inside the window ledge. Police said they also found dirt on the man’s dryer, floor and in a laundry tub under the window.

A two-foot-by-two-foot hole was knocked out of the cement block walled vault with an unknown type of blunt object, according to police.

Police collected evidence from the scene including a brown jewelry box with a possible fingerprint and a black fiber found in the hole leading into the vault.

For questions on the police blotter, email natestemen@patch.com.