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Copper Thieves Hit Plano Food Pantry

PLANO (CBSDFW.COM) - A Collin County food pantry that feeds hundreds of thousands of hungry people in need, is dealing with repeated thefts of copper wire.

Cheryl Jackson founded Minnie's Food Pantry, (now located on West Parker Road) in 2005, in honor of her mother.

Today, people come from around the Metroplex for monthly bags of fresh meat, produce and non-perishables.

This morning, Jackson arrived at the non-profit, ready to organize volunteers and greet the day's clients, only to find the power cut to half the office.

Out behind the building, she found the locked electrical box broken open, and the live wires inside the box, cut.  Over 100 feet of copper was stolen.

"This is my heart. This is my life. There are a lot of people who depend on us. I take it personal. I'm scared," Jackson said.

Plano Police are investigating the incident. Jackson says it's the third time thieves have targeted Minnie's Food Pantry for copper, and she can't understand why.

Jackson's fear is the next time, the wires cut will be for the power that keeps the large refrigerators running.  She's afraid all the donated goods -- meat, poultry, vegetables, fruits - will be spoiled.

"We like to give fresh, healthy food. And if these [refrigerators] go out tonight, these are all the items we'd lose. If we had to pay dollars, we're talking hundreds of thousands of dollars," Jackson said.

The non-profit is looking for a way to step up patrol of their offices, and is looking for a donation of a security camera.

Online: Learn more about Minnie's Food Pantry

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