Charity hit hard by string of crimes get outpouring of support

COWETA COUNTY, Ga. - The security video was less than a minute long but, certainly long enough for folks in Coweta County to identify the car and the men who allegedly stole a generator from outside Bridging the Gap Community Outreach in Newnan at around 5:30 Saturday morning.

"Three of the men have been identified thanks to tips from the public. We got the generator back and even got a new one donated so I'm grateful," said executive director Allison Wallace.

Wallace said the theft of such an important piece of equipment was tough to bear, especially since this was the latest in a string of thefts or breaks at the food distribution and resource center in on First Ave in Newnan.

"It was just so disheartening it's sad when you find out a handful of the people who are in need that were trying to help, might be doing the ones doing this. But it's hard because what they do keeps us from helping the people in need," Wallace said.

But the outpouring of support Wallace received after she posted the security video on the nonprofit's Facebook page made all the difference and continues to help the organization fulfill its mission of Bridging the Gap.

"We are all in this together. My phone hasn't stopped ringing from other nonprofits asking what can they do to help. And a security company saw what happened to us and has offered to help us beef up our security cameras and other methods of making sure this doesn't happen again. We're going to be resilient and keep doing what we do for this community," Wallace said.

Coweta County investigators are holding off on releasing the names of those who have been identified and or arrested in the theft.