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These cops donated a piggy bank full of money after thieves stole one from a young boy These cops donated a piggy bank full of money after thieves stole one from a young boy
(about 2 hours later)
“Pikachu Returned!”“Pikachu Returned!”
So read the headline in a Facebook post from the Alexandria Police Department after the actions of an officer who took it upon herself to help out a local boy after thieves stole his piggy bank from his family’s apartment. So read the headline in a Facebook post from the Alexandria Police Department after an officer helped a boy whose piggy bank was stolen from his family’s apartment.
Someone broke into the family’s apartment late last month in the 5400 block of Bradford Court and stole the yellow piggy bank, which was shaped like the popular Japanese character Pikachu from the Pokemon video games and TV shows. Police say someone broke into the family’s apartment late last month in the 5400 block of Bradford Court and stole the yellow piggy bank, which was shaped like the popular Japanese character Pikachu from the Pokemon video games and TV shows.
Officer Cynthia Hurley, an 11 1/2 year veteran of the department, said that although she was not the responding officer to the burglary, it touched her when she heard about it at a roll call the day after it happened. Officer Cynthia Hurley, an 11 1/2- year veteran of the department, said that although she was not the responding officer to the burglary, it touched her when she heard about it the next day.
“I was a little bit heartbroken,” she said Tuesday, recalling the incident. “The thought of a child losing something precious to them, it really truly bothered me.” “I was a little bit heartbroken,” she said Tuesday. “The thought of a child losing something precious to them, it really truly bothered me.”
Hurley, who said she has three children of her own ranging in age from 16 to 23, said she decided she wanted to “do something to restore some piece of mind to both boys.”Hurley, who said she has three children of her own ranging in age from 16 to 23, said she decided she wanted to “do something to restore some piece of mind to both boys.”
So she searched online and used her own money to buy a new, similar Pikachu piggy bank. Then she went to her fellow officers, asking them to put their own money in it for the boy and his younger brother, who shared the original piggy bank. So she searched online and used her own money to buy a new, similar Pikachu piggy bank. Then she went to her fellow officers, asking them to put their own money in it for the boy and his younger brother, who had shared the original piggy bank.
She went to three different groups around the department and collected an undisclosed amount of money from about 24 officers, said Crystal Nosal, a spokeswoman for the department.She went to three different groups around the department and collected an undisclosed amount of money from about 24 officers, said Crystal Nosal, a spokeswoman for the department.
Hurley said she wasn’t sure how much was in the piggy bank because she just asked officers to give and put it directly inside. Within a few hours, however, the piggy bank was full, she said. Hurley said she didn’t know how much was in the piggy bank because she asked officers to put money directly inside. Within a few hours, however, the piggy bank was full, she said.
“I walked around and told them what I was trying to do,” Hurley said. “They got their spare change and dumped it in the bank. “I walked around and told them what I was trying to do,” Hurley said. “They got their spare change and dumped it in the bank.”
And if the officers didn’t have spare change, she said, “some put in $1s, $5s, $10s and $20s.”And if the officers didn’t have spare change, she said, “some put in $1s, $5s, $10s and $20s.”
Hurley then surprised the family. She called the boys’ home last weekend to make sure they were there. And then she showed up at their door with the money-filled piggy bank and a handful of other officers who had donated money . Hurley then surprised the family. She called the boys’ home last weekend to make sure they were there. Then she showed up at their door with the money-filled piggy bank and a handful of officers who had donated money.
The boy and his family smiled in several photos as Hurley gave him his new piggy bank. Police declined to release the names and ages of the children.The boy and his family smiled in several photos as Hurley gave him his new piggy bank. Police declined to release the names and ages of the children.
She said the older boy kept saying “thank you” repeatedly, as he smiled and hugged the new Pikachu piggy bank. She said the older boy said “thank you” repeatedly, as he smiled and hugged the new Pikachu piggy bank.
“It’s the best feeling in the world to see a smile on a child’s face,” Hurley said.“It’s the best feeling in the world to see a smile on a child’s face,” Hurley said.
On its Facebook page, the department wrote, “Kudos to Officer Hurley and her fellow officers for helping restore a piece of childhood and showing this family that people care.”On its Facebook page, the department wrote, “Kudos to Officer Hurley and her fellow officers for helping restore a piece of childhood and showing this family that people care.”