A Buena Park youth football program lost almost all of its footballs, fog machines and other equipment in a Wednesday break-in of its storage container.
The more than $20,000 worth of equipment taken from the Fullerton Bears Junior All American league also includes a sound system, portable scoreboard, shoulderpads and generator.
The break-in, which occurred before a parent orientation meeting, is the program's third in the last six months.
"To start off the season, our kids don't have the footballs to be able to even throw," said Kathy Lira, a league volunteer and mother. "Our flag teams, they can't even practice pulling a flag right now."
The league posted on its Facebook page a strongly-worded message for the culprit or culprits.
"Thank you again for stealing our equipment. It just means our Bears Family and our communities will rally behind our Bears Family players and cheerleaders and purchase new equipment," the message said. "Thank you for stealing nearly all of our footballs. It just means our Bears Family players will play with the newest equipment available.
The Bears Junior All American Football and Cheer program facilitates cheer and football activities for kids throughout North Orange County.
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"The person who stole from us, they stole from kids. And Karma will come back to them," Lira said.
