Theft prompts local business to donate
Published 1:57 pm Thursday, March 31, 2011
The burglary of storage unit in which items used in the Picayune Police Department’s Summer Camp has elicited some community response.
Capt. Theresa Milar said recently she has received a couple of phone calls from concerned citizens who have indicated they would like to donate fishing poles and a cooler to replace what was stolen. However, those items have not yet been donated.
Wednesday morning though, business owner and Picayune school board member Tony Smith donated $500 to the camp to help replace some of the items stolen. Smith said when he heard about the theft, he asked his family what would be a good way to help out, and his children suggested donating some money.
“We’re just giving back to the community,” Smith said. “Too many people take from the community, you gotta give.”
Milar said that money may be enough to replace most of what was stolen, however she has discovered that more was taken in the theft than originally reported.
The theft occurred on March 14, where an as yet unidentified suspect or suspects broke into a storage unit at Southern Mini Storage on U.S. Highway 11 and took about 16 fishing poles, 10 of which had no reels but were still in their original packaging and were retractable. Three of the poles were pink and had reels. Also taken were five blue plastic totes containing Christmas decorations, four plastic totes with various summer camp supplies and two ice chests.
Milar said upon a recent closer inspection she noticed that several strobe lights used during Karaoke day at the camp and a collection of sport balls also are missing.