DAYTON — A stolen battery from a truck put the brakes on With God’s Grace Ministry’s ability to delivery food for needy families in Montgomery County, but the organization hopes surveillance video will help track down the thief.
“I was just hoping it was somebody that we never provided food for,” said Nicole Adkins, executive director for With God’s Grace Ministry.
Surveillance video provided by the ministry shows a man dump his bike Monday and walk across the street toward With God’s Grace Ministry’s truck near the front door of the Dayton group’s location.
The man struggles, but eventually is able to steal the batteries.
“Them batteries are very heavy, he couldn’t carry them on his bike, he had to come back and get them later,” Adkins said.
Adkins let a number of recycling businesses in her area to watch out for someone selling the batteries.
Police are working to track down the man recorded on camera.
The theft left the group without the workhorse needed to deliver food for needy families.
“When you put the truck out of commission, you’re not just hurting With God’s Grace, you’re hurting the community,” Adkins said.
The organization provides three food banks a month from its Springfield Street warehouse, but delivers 11 mobile food banks each month around the county.
Adkins says Interstate Batteries is donating new batteries and another vendor is coming to fix the damaged and destroyed cables to get her back on the road.
“We have to be sure, no matter what, we’re at the mobile locations to provide the food for these families,” she said.
Dayton police said they are investigating three men, including two that apparently tried to sell the stolen batteries for quick cash.