Princeton, Illinois – Gary Swanson, a cherished local figure celebrated for his unwavering commitment to the Princeton community, finds himself grappling with a distressing situation after thieves singled him out over the weekend, making off with vital sound equipment he uses to enhance community events.
Swanson’s dedication to service earned him the prestigious Community Service Award in 2020, an accolade that recognizes his significant contributions to Princeton and the surrounding area. It’s worth noting that this recognition now stands proudly on record in the nation’s capital, Washington, D.C., with the National Society of DAR.
The stolen sound equipment forms the backbone of Swanson’s invaluable support for numerous local events, an indispensable resource for amplifying voices and uniting the community. The theft has left the community in disbelief.
According to police it happened sometime overnight Saturday into Sunday morning. Princeton Police are now appealing to the community for assistance in recovering the stolen equipment.
“If you have Gary’s equipment we suggest you leave it, undamaged, somewhere that it can be easily found,” Police said in a statement posted to social media Sunday. “If you know who has it, you can contact us anonymously and pass that information along.”
While there is no dollar figure associated with the theft as of yet, the price tag on the broken community trust is something not so easily recoverable.
