Thieves steal from a baby in Lakewood burglary
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LAKEWOOD, Wash. -- To say a Lakewood family has had a bad stretch of luck of late might be a bit of an understatement.
A little over a month ago, Troy Frantz was laid off from his job after 12 years of working there. Then, his then-pregnant girlfriend's car was totaled after getting rear-end.
And now, the latest: Their storage unit was burglarized.
"It hurt a lot worse, when I found out they took the baby's stuff too," said Lori-Lee Litman. "Because when you steal from a baby, it's just -- there's some sad individuals out there."
A brand new high chair and other stuff for their newborn was stolen, along with items for their annual charity event to benefit a local food bank.
"I just want the people caught," Litman said.
All total, thieves stole about $2,000 worth of stuff from the Lakewood storage unit.
"(They) apparently they used a sledge hammer or something to bust (the lock) off there," Frantz said.
But if bad things happen to good people, then sometimes, good people are able make a choice.
"I'm not going to get these guys get us down," Frantz said.
So hopefully now, some good news comes their way. Frantz was just able to find a job at an auto mechanics shop this week, and their baby -- since born healthy-- wasn't affected by the accident.
"He didn't get hurt at all in the accident, thank goodness," Litman said.
So they're hoping for the good news hat trick and hear the crooks have been captured.
If you know anything about the burglary, you're asked to call the Lakewood Police Department.
A little over a month ago, Troy Frantz was laid off from his job after 12 years of working there. Then, his then-pregnant girlfriend's car was totaled after getting rear-end.
And now, the latest: Their storage unit was burglarized.
"It hurt a lot worse, when I found out they took the baby's stuff too," said Lori-Lee Litman. "Because when you steal from a baby, it's just -- there's some sad individuals out there."
A brand new high chair and other stuff for their newborn was stolen, along with items for their annual charity event to benefit a local food bank.
"I just want the people caught," Litman said.
All total, thieves stole about $2,000 worth of stuff from the Lakewood storage unit.
"(They) apparently they used a sledge hammer or something to bust (the lock) off there," Frantz said.
But if bad things happen to good people, then sometimes, good people are able make a choice.
"I'm not going to get these guys get us down," Frantz said.
So hopefully now, some good news comes their way. Frantz was just able to find a job at an auto mechanics shop this week, and their baby -- since born healthy-- wasn't affected by the accident.
"He didn't get hurt at all in the accident, thank goodness," Litman said.
So they're hoping for the good news hat trick and hear the crooks have been captured.
If you know anything about the burglary, you're asked to call the Lakewood Police Department.
Was this the only unit in the storage facility that was burglarized?
@Tattooed_Angel Yes. Everyone else had those "round" locks, which we were not able to afford at the time. :(
 @Troy W. Frantz  @Tattooed_Angel No, Troy. I just lost two computers, which I'm reporting today to the police. Those 'round locks' are not impervious to attack. They cracked them off and I didn't even notice the theft until today. ARRRGGHHH!!!!!!!!
Don't those facilities have content insurance for each of the units? If so, can they recoup their losses that way?Â
@PrairieDawn The storage facility has insurance to protect their property, but not the contents within. Insurance was on the adjenda, but I was going to wait until I could afford it with the new job.
 @Troy W. Frantz Wishing you all the best in 2013 and I know how tight money can be when out of a job and working on just being able to eat and have a roof over your head. Renters insurance really only costs around $15 a month and for many, that is 3 Starbucks coffees(which we all know many do spend including myself) a month or for the smokers(which I am not) that equals the 2-3 packs a day. It's really just your extra change lying around but it gives peace of mind. Thankfully though your child and his mother are safe and that is the most important part of this story. Blessings to you and your family.
@Robinsnest Thank you so much!
How can you tell what was used to break the lock? LOL, this story stinks from east to west!
@WhatdidIsay? Those types of locks are made from hardened steel, which is brittle. Blunt force is needed to crack them.
Stole from a baby? A little dramatic aren't we?
@WhatdidIsay? The items we had stored for Phoenix were items that we didn't need for him yet. It was all we could to to acquire them to begin with. Hopefully after we get back on our feet, we will be able to replace them.
"...after getting rear-end."Â Rear-ended?
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"A brand new high chair and other stuff for their newborn was stolen..."Â Â Were stolen?
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"Â ...good people are able make a choice."Â To make?Â
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@lakeview Get over it professor, No one cares about your proficiency in grammar
 @Alikelystorey I care when it's an article put out by a professional organization or "journalist". I can handle the poor spelling and grammar when I am reading posts on my facebook or reading the comments here, however in an article that is published, HECK NO!!!!
 @Alikelystorey  @lakeview I do! I really like to read a story that looks like it has been written by someone who knows enough grammar to be working in a news media!
@Alikelystorey  Basic proofreading my friendo.Â
No sooner did I watch this story that I checked my own storage units, in my own apartment building, and found that my own storage units along with my neighbors have been ransacked. The rooms were locked and no sign of forced entry, but the locks have all been cut along with the protective wire that covered the units. It's really sad that people feel so desparate to commit such a crime.
 @Erika Isaacs I never trust the security of those apartment storage units.
In which storage facility did the burglary occur? Any half decent one should have plenty of securtiy camera footage to provide to police.
@nodozr It was here in Lakewood, WA on Washington Blvd; just West of Gravelly Lake.Â