By MATT JOHNSON

Record editor

A thief who was either a keen observer or a criminal of opportunity made the holiday season not so nice at a Langley bookstore two days before Christmas.

Now, the owners of Moonraker Books are concerned that a stack of checks stolen off a desk in the store could be used to drain customers’ bank accounts.

Glenn Hauser, who owns the shop with his wife, Josh, said this week that the checks disappeared during a moment of inattention around noon on Dec. 23. Totalling $1,375, the checks were taken in by the business between Dec. 20 and 22. Hauser had just prepared them for deposit when he discovered them missing from his desk at the First Street shop.

Hauser said he is most concerned about the customers who wrote the checks.

Worried the checks might be modified and cashed by the criminal who took them, Hauser asked this week that anyone who wrote a check to Moonraker in the three days preceding the theft cancel them and keep an eye on their accounts.

This is the first time in 32 years of doing business the bookstore has had checks stolen, Hauser said.

Hauser reported the theft to the Langley Police Department. However, the police have no suspects in the case.