A Phoenix high school may have had some of its athletic equipment stolen, but at least it can rest easy knowing that whoever robbed them felt bad about it.
According to ABC 15, the thief who pilfered the storage sheds at the Western School of Science and Technology during the winter break left behind a note explaining why they committed the crime.
The thief’s note read: “Hello manager, please forgive me for taking what doesn’t belong to me! I cannot let my little sister go hungry because of my fault!”
Community coordinator and athletic director Adrian Espana said the apology note did little to comfort those affected by the theft.
“They were apologizing for taking the stuff, but them taking the stuff from the school is not really taking from the school,” Espana said. “It’s taking from the students.”
The pilfered equipment was paid for in part through fundraising efforts by students themselves.
“It’s very disappointing,” Espana said. “The things we have worked for came from grants we have written, some of it was donated to us. The students are the ones who put all of the hard work in, doing car washes every other week, doing any fundraiser they could to raise the money for our athletic program.”
Espana said that every sport on campus will feel the hurt. Among the stolen equipment is everything ranging from soccer balls and volleyballs to baseball equipment, football cleats, jerseys and running shoes. According to its website, the school offers volleyball, cross country, football, soccer, basketball and baseball.
“They cleaned us out for sure,” Espana told ABC 15.
In addition to the sports equipment, the thief also broke into a shed containing tools, leaving behind only a few pairs of eye goggles and work gloves.
Phoenix police have been notified and will review the school’s security footage this week.
