The Acworth post of the Veterans of Foreign Wars will hold an all-day fundraiser on Friday to try and recoup some of the nearly $11,000 stolen during a Sunday night burglary.
The money, a large portion of which had been collected to buy care packages for overseas troops, was stolen from VFW Post 5408 on Cobb Parkway, just north of Acworth. The thieves broke into two safes and vandalized an ATM, according to post officials.
Much of the money had been collected on Saturday, during the post's annual "Forgotten Soldiers Freedom Ride." Post commander David Bobenhausen told the AJC that 125 motorcyclists took part in the fundraiser.
Bobenhausen said Thursday that he was still tallying the amount of money taken by the burglars. "They stole my computer, so I'm having to do it all by hand."
So far, he figures the thieves made off with close to $11,000. About half was earmarked for care packages for soldiers currently serving in Iraq and Afghanistan; the rest was to be used for general expenses and for the post's "Unmet Needs" program that provides assistance for families of currently deployed personnel.
The post's Ladies Auxiliary will hold a barbeque from 1 p.m until midnight on Friday, with live music, food and an auction. Among the items to be auctioned: Bobenhausen's beard.
"I'm a heavily-bearded man, and they have been nagging me to trim my beard," Bobenhausen said. "I haven't shaved since last August, but Friday, it's going to be gone."
He said the event is open to the public. "We would like to have as many people as can possibly make it."
Bobenhausen said he believes the thieves knew the money was in the safes after last weekend's charity event. The bandits drilled holes into both safes, "just big enough for a man to reach his hand in there," Bobenhausen said.
Cobb County police spokesman Joe Hernandez said the burglary happened Sunday night and was reported on Monday morning.
The thieves cut the phone lines into the building, and forced entry through a window, Hernandez said. Once inside, they destroyed video surveillance recorders and other security equipment.
Hernandez said the thieves apparently used sledgehammers and a circular saw as they "targeted money and went after it from the safe, ATM and video gaming machines."
"I don't think they're worthy of living in America," Bobenhausen said of the thieves.
About the Author
The Latest
Featured
