LISBON - Senior center officials in Lisbon are looking into purchasing a security system after a senior center in a neighboring town was broken into and had several items stolen.

"What if that happened here?" Lisbon Senior Center Director Karen Washington said. "You don’t think about something like this until it happens. We don't want it to be too late."

Currently, the Lisbon Senior Center, which is visited by roughly 400 residents per month, does not have a security system installed. However, areas of the building are captured by security cameras from the nearby Lisbon Central School.

Although there have not been any incidents at the Lisbon Senior Center, Washington said purchasing the building’s own equipment would give her, and the seniors, peace of mind.

"We have all of the internal safety equipment like smoke alarms, simulator systems and systems to protect our pipes if the building gets too cold," she said. "But we need to cover around the building."

In September, the Griswold Senior Center was broken into overnight. Police said the suspect entered the building by removing an air conditioner from a window and climbing in. They stole several items including a 50-inch television, a Wii gaming console, two coolers and several meals from the Meals on Wheels program - before exiting through the back door, officials said.

The police were called to the center the next morning when a Meals on Wheels driver arrived.

State police said they were able to grab images of the suspected burglar from security cameras at the Soule Street center.

"They had cameras that caught at least a rough image of what the person looked like," Washington said. "We don’t have any cameras. We don’t need anything extreme with monitors. But just something like that that could help in the case something happened."

Washington said she would like to have cameras positioned at the entrances of the buildings. But given the tall height of windows from the ground, Washington said she is not too concerned about people breaking in through windows at the Newent Road senior center.

"I had never really thought about security here before," resident Judy Avery said. Avery, who plays bingo at the center every week, said if the neighboring Town Hall and school have security, installing new equipment at the senior center may be unnecessary. But she also said safety is a top priority.

Griswold Senior Center Director Tina Falck said she never considered installing a security system at the Soule Street location before the incident, either.

"No one thinks anyone will rob a senior center," Falck said. "We still don’t know who did it, which is discouraging."

Officials are hopeful the Lisbon Senior Center will be outfitted with new equipment within the coming months. Washington said she is in the process of requesting prices from companies, but said the senior center will likely cover the cost through its own budget.

The senior center is also hoping to purchase a new bus. Washington said the bus being used now is "old," but does not know what year it is. The bus transports seniors for center trips, of which Washington said there are more being scheduled each year than ever before.

"We are starting to get nervous that our current bus will break down with everyone aboard," she said. "We are just trying to be prepared."