HENRICO COUNTY, Va. -- A Henrico County mom is calling for cameras to be installed in park parking lots after her car was broken into while at a Henrico County park.
"My hearts broken and it's gonna happen again if something doesn’t change," April Duffer said.
On August 20th, April Duffer, her mom, and her daughter took a trip to Dorey Park in Henrico's East End.
“First time since all the covid stuff happened. Just playing having a good time," Duffer said.
On their way back to the car they noticed the back-passenger window had been broken. Duffer and her mom’s purse had been stolen.
She said both bags had been hidden in the vehicle.
"They never opened the door, so the alarms never went off," Duffer said. “Everything was taken from us. Not only money and monetary value, id’s, credit cards, personal information, they have our house keys."
Duffer called Henrico Police who investigated the incident. Police said the thieves climbed through the window and back out.
45 minutes after officers were informed, Duffer said the thieves used her card at a Walgreens along Meadowdale Blvd in Chesterfield.
“$505 charge, $507 charge and $720 charge. All from the same person, same Walgreens," Duffer said.
The incident has left her shaken.
"For two weeks I didn’t have money to feed my child or buy her clothes or toys or anything so I feel I’ve failed as a mother because not only could I not protect my own daughter, but now I can’t protect myself because these people have everything," Duffer said.
She's hoping that her story will get the right attention so that more protections are put into place.
"I would really like to see cameras in every public park and recreational center in Henrico County, in the state of Virginia, nationwide," she said.
“I just pray it doesn’t ever happen to anyone else because it's terrible, it’s awful," Duffer said.
Duffer said that she willing to give a $500 reward to anyone with information leading up to an arrest. Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 804-780-1000 or submit a tip online at www.7801000.com. The P3 Tips Crime Stoppers app for smart phones may also be used. All three Crime Stoppers methods of contact are anonymous.
