Thieves Steal Equipment From Philadelphia Youth Football Club
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- A youth football club is trying to pick up the pieces after thieves broke into their storage trailer and stole everything.
It happened at Granahan Playground. It is located on the 6500 block of Callowhill Street in the Overbrook section of Philadelphia.
The thieves did leave behind some broken glass, cleaned out shelves, a messy floor and a broken door. But missing is $10,000 worth of items including: Helmets, uniforms, pads and even cooking supplies used for fundraising events.
Dahnte Crawley, the Football Program Director said, "Really, you're just stealing from kids. That's basically what you're doing. This is just a youth athletic association, who would think to do anything like this?"
The Overbrook Monarchs football season was scheduled to start on August 1st. But over the weekend, police were called after Crawley discovered the break-in.
"They actually tore the bars off of the trailer. Smashed the window and someone must have gone in," Crawley explained.
Lt. John Walker with the Philadelphia Police Department added, "We completed a forensic examination early Saturday afternoon and we were able to recover some finger prints which we're currently analyzing."
The various athletic programs at the Granahan Recreation Center were created in 2004. Today, they serve more than seven hundred youths in the community, ages 4 to 15.
John Farnum, a board member at the Recreation Center, said, "You make a promise with the kids, you have to deliver. Basically, we're trying to keep them off the street."
So the loss is devastating but what's baffling is why anyone would steal the uniforms only good for the Monarchs players.
"For us, it's a treasure. This is what we do. This is what keeps us going," Crawley said.
Sonny Moore, Monarchs Athletic Program President, says they heard from Congressman Bob Brady and Councilman Curtis Jones Jr. on raising funds to replace the equipment.
Police say their investigation is continuing. Anyone with information is encouraged to call the police.
If you want to help, you can go to their website.
Phone: 215-840-0769
Overbrook Monarchs
P.O.BOX 28800
PHILADELPHIA, PA 19151
Reported by Elizabeth Hur, CBS 3 and Jim Melwert and Ian Bush, KYW Newsradio
