Thugs targeting vans that help elderly

RIO RANCHO, N.M. (KRQE) - People should be taught to respect their elders and therefore appreciate a business that works to help the elderly, but this wasn’t the case for Meadowlark Senior Center recently.

Apparently nothing was off limits to thieves who recently stole gasoline out of the senior center’s vans.

Vans that are used to deliver food to the needy. The theft not only hurt the elderly who depend on the center and the food delivery van, it’s also costing taxpayers.

Officials say the total damage to the van could cost up to $1,000 to fix. According to Rio Rancho Police, someone or a group of people, have been targeting the center over the last few months.

The vans, which are owned by both the city of Rio Rancho and Sandoval County, are used to bring food to elderly shut-ins as well as provide them with transportation.

"They have gone to great lengths of getting underneath the vehicle and actually cutting the gas lines, causing pretty extensive damage to the vehicles," said Rio Rancho Police Sgt. Nick Onken.

Sandoval County officials say they are no longer parking the vans at the center to hopefully curtail the thefts. The vans, which now have locks on the gas tanks, are currently being kept at a secure location.

Police have increased patrols at the center as well.

Police say damaging the vans and stealing gas could be considered a felony.