Valuable bills stolen from clam shack

GROTON, Conn. (WTNH) -- Thieves broke into a Groton restaurant and got away with some pretty valuable cash. It's not the amount of cash, but rather what it meant to the owner.

A padlock is now added to the back door of Hub's Clam Shack in Groton.

Thieves used a pitchfork to pry it open sometime between Friday night and Saturday morning.

"You feel a little violated, ya know, it was personal stuff," said Hubba Ryan, Hub's Clam Shack.

Personal stuff which meant more than its monetary value. Ryan says the thieves stole about 50 silver dollars dating back to the 1920's, 30's, and 40's. They were swiped from a desk drawer in the back office while dollar bills commemorating the opening of the restaurant were plucked from the cork-board.

"Some of the bills, when I first opened, had people best wish bills on them and stuff," Ryan said.

"Mementos I guess," said customer Dan McGarry. "I don't know, whoever would do that is not in their right mind."

Money which held a special meaning and is not so easily replaced.

News 8 is told police have already been able to track down some of the stolen items. After the silver dollars were taken from the restaurant the owner says the thieves went right across the street and spent them at the CVS.

"Some silver dollars across the street and some two dollar bills at a local convenience store," Ryan said, "so they're looking at footage on that now to see if they can crack it open."

Ryan who also owns a pub in town says it may be difficult to spend those personalized dollars around the area without being noticed.