PORTAGE TOWNSHIP, Ind. (WSBT) — A food pantry was ransacked in Portage Township.
The township released footage of kids stealing food from the township food pantry.
Now, the Portage Township Trustee wants these kids to face consequences for their actions.
Township officials said the group of kids even got physical with staff as they allegedly stole from the pantry.
It all started in the parking lot of the Portage Township Trustee’s Office on Wednesday afternoon when a group of juveniles loitered on the property for a while.
“At one point, they were here for 20 minutes, half an hour it seems, and then reviewing the tapes, it seems like they were here 30 minutes, half an hour,” said Jason Critchlow, (D) Portage Township Trustee.
Jason Critchlow said the Portage Township Food Pantry is a way the township can help residents in need.
But he said some of that product was stolen by five juveniles.
After hanging around the property for some time, the kids made their way into the lobby.
“One of them noticed that the Portage Pantry was there and that the key was in the lock because we were going in and out, we were restocking, we gave out 800 pounds of food in two hours the day before, so the shelves were pretty empty and we were doing some restocking and essentially they let themselves in,” said Critchlow.
Critchlow said staff did try to intervene, but the group of boys started threatening staff.
“They got aggressive and at that point they grabbed a couple bags that we had off the shelf, started running around the pantry, stuffing whatever they could in there,” said Critchlow.
Each person walked out of the building with a grocery bag full of pantry goods.
Critchlow said many items were also tossed around in the parking lot afterwards.
According to Critchlow, the group has had a reputation around the community over the last several weeks.
“Several organizations around here have been victimized by vandalism and theft and other problems from them and had to trespass them off property,” said Critchlow.
Critchlow has filed a report with the South Bend Police Department.
He wants to remind everyone that all actions do have consequences.
“I initially just wanted to have a conversation with them and elicit some other conversations from community leaders that might be a part of their life. And what I found out was it seems like their behavior is well beyond that point at this point,” said Critchlow.
Critchlow said that no one was hurt from this situation.
He also appreciates the community support in donations and helping them identify the potential suspects.
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