Food bank trucks burglarized
The Coachella Valley’s regional food bank trucks were broken into over the weekend leaving four of its six trucks inoperable.
The theft happened overnight on Friday. Six batteries were stolen, the Indio Police Department said they are not seeing a trend in these battery thefts but did say commercial vehicles like this are often a target.
Debbie Espinosa, CEO of the Find Food Bank said it looked like the thieves knew what they were doing. Espinosa said the thieves used tools to get through the locked boxes and carefully took the batteries.
“As well as other things being damaged, like windows being broken for people to get into the cabs of our vehicles, registration papers have been stolen. Fire extinguishers were stolen, handles were damaged in the process of trying to break into the cabs,” Espinosa said.
A van was also damaged, glass could be seen all over the floor.
Espinosa says they were able to catch the thieves in action on surveillance video, which is being reviewed by IPD.
Despite the theft, Espinosa says deliveries are still being made as scheduled. If you have any information on this theft you’re urged to call the police.
