Thieves steal money intended for orphans

Thieves have been stealing donations boxes belonging to The Orphan Foundation, a nonprofit group formed by Newbury Park residents Joe and Tatiana DiDonato to help orphans from the U.S. and around the world find permanent homes with loving families.

Thefts have occurred at businesses in Moorpark, Calabasas, Camarillo, Newbury Park, Simi Valley, Thousand Oaks and other cities in Los Angeles and Ventura counties, according to Joe DiDonato.

An average of two or three donations boxes, each containing up to $30, has disappeared every week over the past several months.

"We've had as many as 250 boxes out, but we've lost around 100, so we're down to about 150 and we have to pick them up more frequently to avoid the thefts," DiDonato said.

One of the more recent thefts occurred at a gas station in Newbury Park in mid-November, said Detective John Lucey with the Ventura County Sheriff's Department.

Most thefts seem to take place when the perpetrators are making purchases at the businesses where the boxes are located, Lucey said.

And although some of thieves have been caught on videotape, positively identifying them has been difficult because of the manpower necessary for solving a crime in which the loss is under $30.

But although each incident is small, the thefts delay the foundation's ability to give grants to families who are ready to adopt a child who needs a permanent home.

"We're seeing an increase in the number of grant requests and at the same a decline in the collections due to the loss of boxes," DiDonato said. The timing couldn't be worse, he said, because the economic slowdown is already affecting families who want to adopt.

"This financial burden has created a huge barrier to solving the orphan crisis as the cost of adoption has skyrocketed out of the reach of most families," said Tatiana DiDonato, co-founder of The Orphan Foundation.

The number of families awaiting grants from the foundation has climbed from 15 at the start of 2008 to 64.

"In one sad case, two boys will age out of the system and will no longer be eligible for adoption. That means going it alone when they leave their institution," Joe DiDonato said.