ASHLAND, Ky. — Thieves have stolen hundreds of dollars worth of materials from the drop box outside the Main Branch of Boyd County Public Library this week.

Until library staff can determine the best solution to the problem, the two outside drop boxes can only be used while the library is open.

Thieves broke the lock on one of the drop boxes that sits across the street from the branch, 1740 Central Ave., on Sunday night or early Monday. After that break-in, a new lock was installed, but someone broke that one Tuesday night or early Wednesday.

There are two drop boxes in that location, but the only one targeted was the one containing electronic items such as DVDs, video games, music CDS and audiobooks. The other drop box, containing books, was not touched.

Circulation Supervisor Betty Malcolm said the stolen items can more likely be sold by the thieves than books could be. “We have no way of knowing how many items were in there each time, but we know the value is at least several hundred dollars.”

The library is asking local pawn shop owners to be on the lookout for the stolen items and notify the library and Ashland Police Department if anyone tries to pawn them. All items and their cases are marked as belonging to BCPL, or at least they were.

Library Director Debbie Cosper asked anyone who sees suspicious activity around any of the library branches to report it immediately. “All our materials are purchased with money we receive from Boyd County taxpayers, so these thieves are stealing from the people of Boyd County.”

The Main Branch is open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday; and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday. Items can also be renewed via the phone (606.329.0090) or website, www.thebookplace.org.

The Catlettsburg and Summit branches will continue to keep their drop boxes open after hours. Materials do not have to be dropped off at the branch where they were checked out.