INDIANAPOLIS -
A central Indiana mother was the victim of a car break-in while out shopping on Black Friday. Lori Diehl returned to her van and found that someone had stolen all her purchases.
"This year's Christmas was a really small budget," she said.
This Christmas will be challenging for Diehl and her family. She wrapped up black Friday shopping only to return to her van cleaned out by a thief. It happened in the parking lot of the south side Menards store.
"When I got out to the car I first thought, did I just open somebody else's car? I looked around and everything was gone," she said.
Diehl used sales flyers to lay out her shopping spree for her husband and three children. She made stops at other stores and says all were packed with cars just like the Menards lot.
Out of all the items stolen from her van, there is one item dear to her heart she hopes to get back.
"I would like to have my breast pump back. I am sure when they took it they did not know what they were taking; it probably looked like electronic equipment of some kind," she said.
Shopping safety tips from police include staying alert in parking lots. You should hide or lock your valuables in the vehicle glove box and keep shopping bags out of plain view. Take "big ticket" items like televisions and computers home right away, and try to shop with family or friends.
This year, Diehl's friends gave her family gift cards to use on Black Friday, knowing money is tight and because of an unexpected turn in her husband's health.
"He is currently undergoing cancer treatment right now and this has really been a rough year," she said.
Despite getting ripped off, Diehl said, "If their need was greater than ours, I hope it goes to good use."
Update: Mike McGlynn, a starting offensive right guard for the Indianapolis Colts, paid $500 to Diehl to cover the lost items after hearing about her plight, according to Eyewitness News partners at The Indianapolis Star.
Anyone wanting to help the Diehl family can drop off and/or mail to:
Christmas theft victim Lori Diehl family
(c/o Reporter Steve Jefferson)
WTHR Newsroom
1000 North Meridian Street
Indianapolis IN 46204
During regular business hours, Mon-Fri, 9-5
Lori Diehl
The theft took place in the south side Menards parking lot.
Lori's husband is undergoing treatment for cancer.
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