Program for at-risk youth is burglarized, shut down


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OGDEN -- A critical outreach program for Ogden's inner city kids has shut down for the next few days because burglars spent the long weekend helping themselves.

They took computers, cameras even workshop tools; all of which are used by the kids in the Youth Impact program.

While the financial loss is tough, the director of Youth Impact says it's the fact that someone would steal from at-risk kids that's toughest to swallow.

The thieves really took advantage of this holiday weekend, coming and going as they pleased. This is the bike shop. It's where kids can take a junk bike, fix it up and make it their own. Thieves took quite a few of the tools and organizers aren't sure how to begin replacing them.

Robb Hall, director of Youth Impact.
Robb Hall, director of Youth Impact.

The thieves simply cut a hole in the fence and were then free to enter, picking and choosing what they wanted. The list of stolen items covers nearly every room at Youth Impact. Computers, digital and video cameras air, compressors -- even a scale to weigh mail.

"This is a safe place. We've never had anything like this," said Youth Impact director Robb Hall.

Hall's father donated many of the tools in the bike shop that were taken. His father -- a fixture at Youth Impact -- died last week.

"A lot of the stuff, I wouldn't know where to begin to put a price on it," Hall said.

Then there's the damage to the building: a kicked-in door, a safe carried out with checkbooks and other private information inside and more.

Police have surveillance video and possible suspects. Hall says drugs often play a part with crime in the neighborhood. It's the exact kind of thing they try to keep away from the kids, some of who come from mostly single parent homes and often have family members in prison or gangs. Youth Impact is their safe haven.

Contact
To help Youth Impact, contact Robb Hall at robb.hall@youthimpactogden.org

"Our kids are going to be hoping to get on the vans after school and we're not in the position to do that today," Hall said.

The Youth Impact program is on hold for now. Organizers say they need a couple days to take inventory and get enough equipment to get things running again.

Email: sdallof@ksl.com

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Sarah Dallof

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