‘The most disheartening news’: Suburban food pantry’s trucks hit by catalytic converter thieves overnight

BOLINGBROOK, Ill. — A suburban nonprofit that provides food to hundreds every week was left stranded on Friday morning after their trucks were hit by catalytic converter thieves overnight.

In a Facebook post shared Friday morning, a spokesperson for the nonprofit “4 KIDS Sake,” a food pantry and enrichment center located in Bolingbrook, announced that the catalytic converters were stolen off of both of their trucks.

“The catalytic converters were stolen off of both of our trucks last night and is honestly the most disheartening news to wake up to this morning,” the post read in part.

According to the organization, the thefts unfolded between 7 p.m. Thursday and 6 a.m. Friday while the trucks were parked at their food pantry in the 300 block of Remington Boulevard.

The trucks were not together when the thieves struck. An official said one was parked on the food pantry’s dock while the other was in the front parking lot.

While the organization is still waiting to hear back from their insurance agency, an early assessment of the damage indicates nearly $20,000 in repairs will likely be needed, as one of the trucks had two catalytic converters and replacements run around $6,000 each.

4 KIDS Sake provides food to around 700 families a week and officials said the thefts will likely impact upcoming food distribution for at least the next week. A rental truck will also likely be needed in the coming weeks in order to resume distribution.

One of the trucks hit was only around a year old, and an official from the organization said, and they only got it last year through the help of a grant.

According to the organization, a police report has been filed and they are working with their property manager to get security footage.

The organization was not the only one hit by catalytic converter thieves overnight. Officers said another theft was reported in the 200 block of Remington Boulevard.

Anyone with information on the thefts is asked to contact the organization at 331-333-9250 or dial 911.