TEXAS COMPUTERS STOLEN FROM FOOD BANK OFFICESThe Bryan-College Station Eagle > Region > Local/RegionalComputers stolen from Brazos Food Bank

By MELISSA SULLIVAN
Eagle Staff Writer

Thieves broke into the Brazos Food Bank late Thursday or early Friday, stealing all of the nonprofit agency’s computers.

The five computers — a laptop and four desktops — were used to track such essential records as food inventory, finances and volunteer hours, Executive Director Theresa Mangapora said Friday.

Workers spent the day writing receipts and order sheets and doing inventory by hand. But Mangapora said the burglary will not interrupt the food bank’s service to the community.

“We won’t stop what we do,” she said. “We have people who depend on us. It’s unfortunate, but we’re not going to shut down or anything.”

Lt. Ben Smith of the Bryan Police Department said the thieves broke into the organization’s building between 4:15 p.m. Thursday and 8:20 a.m. Friday. Authorities are not sure how the burglars got inside; there was no damage to any doors or windows, Smith said.

In addition to the computers, the burglars carted off three flat-screen monitors, a digital camera and a scale, Smith said. All of the equipment was in offices. No food was taken.

Authorities were able to collect fingerprints from the inside of the building, Smith said.

Mangapora said the stolen equipment is worth about $6,500. The computers were insured, but she said she doesn’t expect to hear from the insurance company until Tuesday at the earliest.

In the meantime, Mangapora said, she wants to replace the computers because it will be hard to function without them. With no money, though, she doesn’t know how that will happen, she said.

The agency’s board will meet Monday to discuss plans and security issues, she said.

Mangapora said not all the food bank’s data was lost. The agency has retained hard copies of thank-you letters, grant reports, time cards and some inventory records from the past few months.

The food bank collects and distributes goods to 46 nonprofit organizations that feed about 45,000 people a year in the Brazos Valley, Mangapora said.

“You would think, being a nonprofit organization, we wouldn’t be hit,” she said. “Lesson learned.”