Thieves targeting curbside donations in Hollister
Tiana Guerrero, a stay-at-home mother of four,thought she was doing the right thing when she put baby clothes, shoes, and other things in bags outside her Hollister home to be picked up and delivered to those in need. But what happened next she never expected.
Guerrero said, “There was a white truck that pulled up outside my house and they
quickly grabbed the bags that I left out for Hope Services.”
She caught the whole thing on camera. The video shows what appears to be a woman jumping out of a truck, grabbing the bags and taking off fast.
The donations were meant to go to Hope Services, a nonprofit organization that helps adults with disabilities. Hope Services told News Channel 5 its staff only uses marked cars for pickups.
In a statement, the nonprofit said, “It is unfortunate that those
donations are stolen before they reach us. We are aware that theft occurs
before our trucks arrive, and in some cases, the theft involves
coordinated efforts.”
Hollister police Chief David Westrick said in some cases these thieves resell the items to make money.
“It takes a pretty low person to take an item that someone’s donating to
the needy,” said Westrick.
After Guerrero posted what happened on Facebook, others in her neighborhood began to come forward.
“It’s not theirs. It’s not theirs to take so they shouldn’t be
driving through our neighborhood stealing our things,” said Guerrero.
Hope Services doesn’t plan to stop the curbside pickup and hopes these acts don’t discourage people from helping. Police suggest putting the items on the porch or front steps, closer to the house itself. This might discourage people from taking the donations.
