RPD is asking for your help to find suspects after Community Food Cupboard was ransacked

UPDATE: Police are asking for your help to find the people suspected of ransacking the Community Food Cupboard on Nester Street on Tuesday.

Police released these photos of the men both inside and outside the food cupboard. Administrators said about $2,500 worth of food and other items meant to feed around 500 families was stolen.

Police said the suspects broke a window to get in the building and were caught on camera. If you recognize any of these men, please call the RPD at (585) 428-6472 or email RPDTipLine@CityofRochester.gov

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — The Community Food Cupboard of Rochester located on Nester Street was broken into early Tuesday morning and thousands of dollars of items were stolen. This is the second time in nine days the cupboard was broken into forcing it to close temporarily for the day.

The nonprofit relies on donations that serve roughly 500 families a month. The administrator tells News10NBC thankfully their camera system was able to notify them before any volunteers came to work.

“It was really disheartening,” administrator Maribeth Weed said. “They smashed a window. They stole probably about $2,500 worth of products.”

That was overnight last week and those products they stole were things the cupboard purchased with extra donations that they got after they had a fire pre-Covid.

“Like shampoo, laundry soap, diapers, stamps, not so much food, and then just made a giant mess,” Weed said.

So, the cupboard employees boarded and replaced the window, but nine days later it happened again.

“All of a sudden this morning, I get another alert on my phone and I look at it and it’s the same person through the same window,” Weed said. “Except this time there was none of that other stuff left and they steal that because I think they’re able to sell it easier to like a corner store.”

Weed said the thieves were in and out for six hours taking whatever they could get their hands on and at one point, they were inside the pantry while volunteers were outside about to go to work.

“They took our snow pusher, all our chargers, they broke the window again and they stole more diapers,” Weed said.

Weed said they also stole various food items like mac and cheese, ramen noodles, and peanut butter. Sh thinks it may have been someone they have served before.

“It’s disheartening,” Weed said. “Last week was really rough on me, and at first I didn’t understand why I felt that way, but I think it’s just because it’s like your house. If somebody breaks into your house and messes things up on purpose, you just feel really sad and I started to feel better over the weekend, to just go right back into this.”

Rochester Police are investigating both incidents. They are asking if you do know the men in the photos to please reach out to them.

Weed said they upgraded their security and they do plan to reopen tomorrow.

The cupboard is looking for volunteers. If you’re interested in becoming one you can call them at 325-4990 or click here.