2 Men Held in Theft of Charity Donations at Stores

Two men described by police as “the meanest crooks alive” were arrested Wednesday on suspicion of snatching donation buckets for the Muscular Dystrophy Assn. from the checkout counters of two Burbank convenience stores, police said.

George Moore, 24, of Los Angeles and Daniel Dellaporta, 26, of Burbank were jailed on suspicion of burglary for grabbing the cash-filled buckets and dashing out of two 7-Eleven stores early Wednesday, Sgt. Don Goldberg said.

“You could call these guys the meanest crooks alive,” Goldberg said.

Police had not totaled the money stolen, but Goldberg said it was “a very small amount.” Store clerk Ashiqally Shiravee said he empties the container when contributions reach more than $4 or $5 to discourage theft.

The Los Angeles MDA chapter’s president, Jerry Friedman, said a full container can hold about $100, and added that only one jar out of the 5,000 or so in place throughout the county was reported stolen in 1990.

According to police reports, Moore approached the cash register at the 7-Eleven at 600 N. Glenoaks Blvd. to purchase a bottle of soda about 2:30 a.m. But as the clerk rang up his purchase, Moore grabbed the plastic donation container and ran out, Goldberg said.

He jumped into a car driven by Dellaporta and the two roared away, Goldberg said.

Ten minutes later, the two struck again at a 7-Eleven at 3227 Glenoaks Blvd., Goldberg said. Dellaporta parked behind the store while Moore went inside, grabbed the jar and fled, Goldberg said.

The clerk called police, and officers arrived quickly, catching Dellaporta before he could pull away, Goldberg said. Moore was arrested minutes later, walking in an alley a few blocks away. Police later found one of the containers with money still inside.

In addition to Wednesday’s burglaries, Moore and Dellaporta are suspected in a similar heist Monday. In that theft, a man matching Moore’s description took a jar filled with donations for abused children from Frank’s Steakhouse at 916 W. Olive Ave., Goldberg said.

Moore already was wanted on suspicion of petty theft, and Dellaporta was wanted for driving with a revoked license, Goldberg said.

Both men were being held in Burbank City Jail, Moore in lieu of $12,500 bail and Dellaporta in lieu of $7,500 bail.