DOVER, Ohio (AP) - The cash donations stuffed into the large glass container on the circulation desk at Dover Public Library were meant to be an anonymous holiday gift to a needy family, a gesture inspired by the book "Christmas Jars." Now its author is extending that charitable spirit to the thief who swiped the cash, some of which was found the next day in the book drop with a handwritten apology.
Security video shows a man who appears to be wearing pajama pants, a hooded shirt and a jacket walking away from the library with the jar and an estimated $1,000 in donations on Tuesday evening.
In doing so, he actually took something less tangible, "Christmas Jars" author Jason F. Wright said.
"He's not stealing money - he was stealing hope," said Wright, of Woodstock, Virginia. He said he'd like to sit down with the thief to explain the jars' charitable purpose.
"I'd love to meet him, buy him a burger and chat. I'll bring him my Christmas Jar from home and personally deliver it to him. It wouldn't be $1,000, but there's a year's worth of change in there."
Library director Jim Gill said staff on Wednesday found a nearly 4-inch wad of $1 bills in the book drop with a note saying "I'm very sorry." The jar had contained larger bills, including some twenties, Gill said.
A man identified as a "person of interest" in the theft was found at a Dover home but said he wanted to speak with an attorney before talking to investigators, Dover police told the newspaper. They were waiting to see if he might turn himself in.
Meanwhile, Wright was recruiting online followers to contribute to the library's fundraising efforts. Hundreds of dollars were pledged in the first day, and he offered to deliver the donations to the library in person.
Wright said thousands of collection jars have been given away in the decade since his book was first printed, but he wasn't aware of any previous thefts.