Thieves steal BMX bicycles from children in Atwater

ATWATER, Calif. (KFSN) -- A disheartening crime in Merced County. Police say someone stole several BMX bicycles from a free program for kids.

Investigators say someone stole eight bikes from the Atwater Police Activity League, and now dozens of kids are paying the price.

Police believe someone climbed the fence at the track, cut the locks on two storage containers, and took several bikes and other equipment.

Now the volunteers who run the BMX program have had to cancel it until they can somehow find the stolen items or raise enough money to replace them.

The BMX track at Atwater's Veterans Park is quiet now, but on the first and third Mondays of every month it's usually filled with kids from Atwater's Police Activities League. Some of them come from difficult backgrounds.

Celeste Jones, an Atwater P.A.L. Volunteer said, "These are kids that could be saved from going to jail from going and being robbers or graffiti all over everything they have something else to do."

That's why Jones was heartbroken to learn eight bikes, several helmets, and some replacement parts were stolen from storage containers on Friday. She's dedicated more than a decade to helping underprivileged children, and is known as Grandma Jones by many in the community.

Jones added, "I had to cancel the BMX last Monday because I had no bikes for them to ride, and about six kids called me and said 'grandma, why aren't you here? What do I do?'"

The crime has touched a nerve across this small city.

"It's sad," said Atwater resident, Kelsi Kamesch. "There's a lot of cruel people in the world, and us kids are trying to become something but we can't when we have people ruining it for us."

Diane Buss added, "Oh it's devastating, it's devastating because now the community has to get together again and try to get the funds to replace these bikes so they can have them."

The thieves also took two other bicycles from a private group that uses this track. Police are now following leads and asking residents to be aware of anyone selling used BMX bikes.

Lt. Sammy Joseph with the Atwater Police Department said, "Just notify us even if they're not sure it can't hurt for us to go check those and we do have the serial numbers of those bicycles, and if they're scratched of that will give us enough to go from there."

This isn't the first time this track has been targeted. Someone stole a four wheeler from the facility last year that still hasn't been found.

Volunteers are now trying to raise enough money to start replacing some of the stolen bikes. Anyone who wants to help can contact the Atwater Police Activities League.

CONTACT FOR DONATIONS:

Celeste Jones

Atwater P.A.L. Volunteer

209-230-1602

or

Cpl. William Novetzke

Atwater Police Dept.

750 Bellevue Rd.

Atwater, CA 95301

209-357-6384