Electronics, games, movies stolen from Ronald McDonald House in Minneapolis
MINNEAPOLIS -- Ronald McDonald House Charities says one of its houses was robbed early Tuesday morning in Minneapolis.
The charity says a large-screen TV, Xbox console, and assorted games and movies were stolen from the common area in the Ronald McDonald House on Oak Street. Additionally, one of the building's security doors had significant damage.
"It is very unusual to have this kind of crime occur on our property and while we expect this to be a one-off event, we will re-examine our security protocols with residents and staff to ensure unauthorized people cannot gain entry to the facility," Jill Evenocheck, President and CEO of RMHC, Upper Midwest said.
The Oak Street location provides complimentary housing for 48 families with seriously ill and injured children while their children go through treatment at an area hospital.
When Amy Ament, the COO of Ronald McDonald Charities of the Upper Midwest, learned about the break-in, she called it "scary" and "unnerving."
"We talk a lot at Ronald McDonald House about unimaginable times, or even what families are going through when their kids are critically ill and injured," Ament said. "You think about somebody stealing from families that are going through those times, it's really unthinkable."
The common area, known as the All-Star Lounge, is a popular place for families to relax at the end of the day, according to their website.
Mike Giles, who stayed at the Ronald McDonald House the last eight weeks after his daughter Juliana was born with a congenital heart defect, said his son had found refuge in the common area, playing Xbox and video games over the past months. It's allowed him to have a space where he can still be a kid, away from the hospital.
"It's hard to believe that a place that does the kind of things that they do for families in really difficult situations would be targeted for something like that," Giles said.
RMHC has posted a fundraising effort to its website and created an Amazon wishlist to help replace what was stolen.
The Minneapolis Police Department is investigating the incident.