Remorseful Burglars Return Stolen Computers to Sexual Assault Center

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By Fran Berkman2013-08-08 19:10:26 UTC

Hours after pulling off a daring heist, burglars returned their stolen loot — six desktop computers and a brand new laptop — to a center that helps victims of sexual assault. They also left an apology note.

The burglars targeted the San Bernardino Sexual Assault Services building in San Bernardino, Calif., where Candy Stallings had served as executive director for nearly 27 years.

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"We're still in shock," Stallings told Mashable. "I know they committed a crime, but the compassion that they showed is really overwhelming."

The thieves struck late at night on July 31. Stallings said police told her the burglars broke into an outside utility closet, then gained access to the building by crawling above the ceiling panels. Although they clipped wires, hoping to disable the alarm, it must not have worked — the building's security company called Stallings, alerting her to the late-night activity.

By the time she arrived, police were on scene and helicopters were scanning the area, as described in a blog post from the California Governor's Office of Emergency Services. The burglars had escaped with the computers and various other items. After she thought her part in the investigation was complete for the night, Stallings returned to her home around 1:30 a.m. She was distraught.

"We don't have a lot of money, we don't have a lot of things to give out," Stallings said, noting that the stolen laptop was the center's only one.

She received another call, this time from the police, around 4:30 a.m. Upon returning to the building, Stallings was confronted by officers who told her they thought the burglars had returned the stolen goods.

Stallings didn't believe them. But to her disbelief, she found a shopping cart filled with the computers and other items. Tucked neatly within the laptop was an apology note.

A 2011 article in the San Bernardino Sun pegged the city as the second poorest in the United States, only behind Detroit. San Bernardino filed for chapter 9 bankruptcy protection on Aug. 1, 2012.

"San Bernardino is in a serious situation," Stallings said, adding that she has noticed more break-ins of late.

Stallings said she believes the thieves had a change of heart because of a conversation police had with "transients" outside the center on the night of the burglary. She remembers an officer explaining the function of the service center to the homeless passers-by.

"Transients keep a close knit community in the area around the center, and they must have spread the word on what the stolen items were being used for," Stallings is paraphrased as saying in the aforementioned blog post.

Stallings told Mashable that one of the homeless transients even visited the center several days after the incident to apologize on behalf of the thieves. As of Thursday afternoon, police are still searching for the burglars, according to Stallings. Police have not yet responded to our request for comment.

The sexual assault services clinic has received extra attention in the week since the incident, and Stallings said she is happy to have more people calling and making use of the center's resources. She also set up a GoFundMe donations page based on the influx of calls from people who want to contribute.

"It's been unbelievable that a note of compassion can increase attention to the services," Stallings said.

Stallings' own note of compassion — a sign that reads "Thank you for caring" — now hangs outside the center.

Images: Candy Stallings/San Bernardino Sexual Assault Services

Topics: california, computers, Social Good, U.S., US & World