Boys & Girls Club of Laguna Beach loses $8,000 in items in break-in

A break-in over the weekend cost the Boys & Girls Club of Laguna Beach $8,000 in stolen property, the organization said.

The incident was reported to the Laguna Beach Police Department on Monday. An investigation is continuing, police Sgt. Jim Cota said.

No other details about the break-in were provided.

The Boys & Girls Club said it lost 19 Chromebook computers and two XBoxes with controllers. It also said a laptop, “smart” TV and Blu-Ray player were missing.

The thefts likely will cause disruptions for Boys & Girls Club members who use the facility at 1085 Laguna Canyon Road to do homework or participate in after-school programs, the organization said.

“Learning what was stolen over the weekend made our hearts sink,” said Pam Estes, the Laguna Beach branch’s chief executive. “The people who stole from us did not just take laptops, TVs and gaming devices, they took away opportunities from our members to complete their homework, to learn and explore and just to be able to play.”

A news release said the club serves about 275 children on operating days and about 4,000 annually. At least half of those children are receiving financial aid, the organization said. About 67% of the nonprofit’s funding comes from fundraising, individual donations and grants.

“We rely heavily on the support of the community to keep our doors open every day,” Estes said. “It’s heartbreaking to know that this is a setback in the education of our community’s youth. They didn’t just steal from us, they stole from a whole community that made these items possible in the first place.”

The club is seeking donations through its website, bgclagunabeach.org, and has scheduled an indoor cycling class benefit and raffle for 5:30 p.m. Friday at Rhythm Ride, 1100 S. Coast Hwy., Laguna Beach.

“We are hoping the community will rally around us once again and help us replace them,” Estes said.

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