Leechburg business abruptly closes after reported burglary; owner offers reward for information

A specialty convenience market in Leechburg’s business district closed abruptly, after a reported burglary early Sunday that resulted in the theft of $200 from the register.

Market on Second, open since 2022, was burglarized between 6:45 and 7:10 a.m., owner Jennifer Toney said.

Toney, a well-established cook and caterer, owns two other Alle-Kiski Valley businesses — Ash Taphouse in New Kensington and Hot Spot Hotel in Kittanning.

Market on Second’s normal business hours are from 10 a.m. to midnight, but Toney suspects an employee, or former employee, is responsible for the theft.

Toney said she called Leechburg police Sunday morning after being notified by an employee that the money was missing.

When borough police did not immediately answer her calls, Toney said she learned Leechburg does not have 24/7 coverage and called Armstrong County 911. State police responded and are handling the investigation.

“I was so upset, I cried,” Toney said Monday. “My feelings are hurt. I’ve been in business cooking for more than 20 years.”

Market on Second sells homemade soups and grab-and-go meals.

No other items were reported stolen, and no damage was reported inside the business.

On Sunday, Toney gave away three boxes of freshly prepared meals to customers stopping by and hearing the news of the closure.

“I didn’t want the food to go to waste,” said Toney, 47. “I appreciated everyone checking on me.”

Toney employs four part-time workers at the small store at 114 Second St.

As of Monday, no suspects have been identified. Toney is offering a $100 reward for information that leads to an arrest.

She intends to press charges.

“I’m hoping maybe somebody has a Ring camera,” Toney said. “I’m not going to reopen until I find out who did this. I suspect it was an employee because they need the code to get inside and a code to use the register.”

The timeline of the burglary was provided from the timestamp on the register that indicates when someone used the code to open it.

On Sunday, Toney changed the register and door codes. She plans to install security cameras this week.

“We hope to reopen, but at this time we cannot run a business while having someone stealing. Unfortunately, it’s not an isolated incident,” Toney said. “We love Leechburg and hope to be back after restructuring things, and, hopefully, we’ll find out who is doing this.”

Toney said she suspects two other occasions where cash went missing.

“This was done by someone I trusted,” she said.

The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information about Sunday’s theft is asked to call state police at the Kittanning barracks at 724-543-2011.