Stolen U-Haul Truck Containing Pictures of Murdered Children Found

Families who have lost children and loved ones to murder faced more heartache when a fundraiser truck filled with slain children's photos was stolen, but there was a happy ending when it was recovered after being featured on the news.

"It's not something you would want somebody else to go through; that's why I chose the profession I did," said Titus Smith of Los Angeles Port police, one of the first officers to respond to the case, as he choked back tears.

The U-Haul truck with the victims' photos and shoes was stolen over the weekend. The items were part of a fundraiser to help the families.

"When they took it, it was like someone smashed the world," Lawanda Hawkins said. "It was like someone came and hit us in the stomach."

The items were in the care of Justice For Murdered Children, based in San Pedro. The U-Haul loaded with poster-sized photos and shoes and other personal times belonging to hundreds of victims that cannot be replaced.

"We are begging you please give us our stuff back. Please, it's our children. It was our stuff," said Hawkins, a mother of a slain child and founder of Justice For Murdered Children, when the truck was taken. "How dare you take their shoes and pictures and stuff. Do you know what that did to us? Give us our stuff back!"

The nonprofit group had been planning a three-day fundraising event to help the families of murder victims.

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"We can't do none of the stuff we are supposed to do. We help the families. You blew it for our kids," Hawkins said.

The night before the fundraiser organizers put 350 poster-sized photos and victims shoes, along with banners in a 15-foot U-Haul rented from Joe and Mike's Auto. It had no tracking device.

"We seen it at 11 p.m.," Hawkins said. "Everything was locked. I had the keys."

Someone took the U-Haul along with its precious cargo and all they want now is to get the items back.

"We forgive you. There's no hard feelings but you're breaking those mamas' hearts," Hawkins said.

The U-Haul with an Arizona license plate was stolen near First Street and Western Avenue in Rancho Palos Verdes.

After media reports aired the story, someone who watched the news called Hawkins to report seeing the truck in a San Pedro alley Monday night.

Hawkins told NBC4 that some of the items were still in the vehicle.

Officer Smith, who first encountered Hawkins when the truck was stolen, was able to meet with her again, but this time, to return the truck and some of its precious contents.

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