Jul 15, 2009 10:50 pm US/Eastern
$20K Worth of Electronics Stolen From Kids Center
BOSTON (CBS) ―
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Thieves removed a flat panel TV from the wall at the center.
WBZ
It's a safe haven for at-risk kids in Dorchester, but now the Ella J. Baker house is reeling from a huge loss.
Early Wednesday morning thieves broke through the center's back door and stole $20,000 worth of equipment.
This leaves about 100 kids, like 10-year old Anicia Gillespie, without important programs.
"That was terrible what they did," says Anicia.
The thieves took a 65-inch flat screen TV and a Blu-ray DVD player that the center used for its movie nights. The media equipment also has a serious purpose; it's used in the center's gang outreach program.
"We would close the building down and use the media center as a form of getting their attention and redirecting them, mentoring," says Baker House executive director Kevin Peterson.
Peterson says the biggest loss was the center's music studio and film editing system.
The thieves took the high tech computer and monitor, as well as microphones, keyboards, turntables and speakers.
The studio equipment cost about $12,000, but Peterson says the toll this will take on the kids is much more than any dollar amount.
"There are no other studios that are free to the young people in the area," says Peterson.
But, there is hope. A Boston artist has donated a portrait he made of President Barack Obama to the Baker House to auction off. It's valued at $10,000.
Artist Ralph Beach hopes other people in the community will do the same to help the center.
"They're our kids, they're my kids, and you have to do for them," says Beach.
Peterson says he has no idea who could have done this, but admits the thieves knew what to look for and where.
The Baker House has insurance, but it's capped at $8,000, less than half the amount stolen.
"The loss of this really cripples us," said Peterson.
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