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Thornton youth center ransacked
The Thornton Community Center was ransacked Monday night or early this morning.
Paula Soto, a community social services director for San Joaquin County, was devastated when she discovered the massive theft and damage when she arrived at the center at 8 a.m. today.
"They just tore up everything," said Soto, who was in tears as she talked about the break-in. "That somebody would do this — it was so wrong."
Burglars appeared to have climbed through a back window at the center, located on the New Hope School campus on North Sacramento Boulevard, Soto said. They took $1,000 worth of games the center had just purchased for children to use after school, such as X-Box and Guitar Hero, a series of music video games. The center serves children from mostly low-income families after school.
Wires to the phone line and alarm system were cut, and the locked file cabinets were damaged by crowbars, Soto said. Keys were stolen as well, she said.
Soto said she was waiting to inventory the loss until sheriff's deputies dusted the community center for fingerprints today.
The community center serves preschool children through eighth grade in the Thornton community. Some 30 to 40 children participate each day after school until 5:30 p.m.
Soto runs the program for kindergarten through eighth grade, while a county employee from the First 5 Commission shares space by operating a preschool program.
"I dread having to face the children after school today," Soto said, and telling them what happened.
For more of this story, see Wednesday's News-Sentinel.
Contact reporter Ross Farrow at rossf@lodinews.com.
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Reader Feedback
muffin29 wrote on Sep 30, 2008 5:27 PM:
Im sorry but the people that live in "T-town" are nothing but losers and crackheads.
It most likely was an inside job and may have very well be one of the childrens older siblings. It is very sad that the people in that town only bring each other down. Thornton is a very small town and there are people who know the individuals involved, hopefully someone will come forward. "
edumacation wrote on Sep 30, 2008 5:19 PM:
A reward and some, recognition that the town is tired of being known as a town of slackers and cheats.
If anyone knows or hears a rumor about who or how, they need to immediately contact the LODI PD or SJC Sheriff. A lot of our taxes are sent to this town to help out those who are disadvantaged. It is time for a brave soul to contact the police and allow justice to work. "
wowerzz wrote on Sep 30, 2008 3:32 PM:
galtgirl77 wrote on Sep 30, 2008 1:50 PM:
It's frustrating. Lets just hope that mommy and daddy question where their son (or maybe daughter-you never know), got such an expensive game system or new game from and put two and two together.
But then again, whose to say that the stolen property hasn't already been sold!
I feel for the "good" kids and wish I could help. Maybe Paula will have to take all of the valubles home with her everynight. I guess that's the only way to keep it all safe! "
Whoa Nellie! wrote on Sep 30, 2008 1:39 PM:
This shouldn't be hard to solve. Go look in the bedroom of every kid (boys) who was there yesterday.
Another sad brown on brown crime. "
galtgirl77 wrote on Sep 30, 2008 11:53 AM:
Comments on this story are now closed.