Weather | Sports | Forums | Comics | Classifieds | Calendar | Movies
Stunned officials think the thieves were looking for money donated for victims of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
By AMY HERDY
© St. Petersburg Times, published September 25, 2001
TAMPA -- Twice in the past week a thief broke into the Red Cross office, probably looking for money donated for victims of the terrorist acts, officials said.
"The thought that keeps running through my head is, how dare they?" said Janet McGuire, director of public affairs for the Tampa Bay Chapter of the Red Cross.
McGuire said the thief or thieves broke into the offices at 3310 W Main St. on Wednesday night and again over the weekend, but were only able to steal petty cash, video equipment and $2,400 in travelers checks. Since the attacks in New York and Washington on Sept. 11, she said, the Red Cross has received more than $200,000 in donations, but that money is immediately deposited in a bank and not kept in a local office. "We want donors to realize their donations are safe," she said.
Officials know it was the same thief because a screwdriver stolen the first night was brought back the second night and left.
Both times, the thief climbed in through a second-story window, McGuire said. The first time, a video camera, digital camera and a 35mm camera were taken; the equipment is valued between $1,500 to $2,000. The second time, she said, "They destroyed the safe" and again rummaged through the offices.
Red Cross workers were taking the incident hard, she said.
"It's upset everyone, just to think someone would do this," McGuire said. "We've been so overwhelmed with the generosity of the community, and for this to happen . . . is very disappointing."
To prevent more break-ins, the office will now have a security system installed and nightly patrols, she said.
-- Amy Herdy can be reached at (813) 226-3386 or herdy@sptimes.com.