Watch CBS News

Thieves Target Newborn's Room In St. Paul Burglary

ST. PAUL, Minn. (WCCO) -- The cooing and cuddling with a newborn is among the most precious memories any parent can have. But for Megan McGinnis, that peaceful moment was terribly interrupted when her little girl of only a week became a victim of crime.

"We were like, 'Why are my dogs in the house?' And then the door was open and then I saw all our stuff gone ... our TV, everything," McGinnis explained.

Thieves broke into the family's St. Paul home around 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday afternoon. It happened just a short time after Megan and baby Bria had driven to a relative's home.

McGinnis said they were gone only briefly, saying, "An hour, just an hour."

By the time the mother and infant returned home, the burglars had carted off a big screen television, several electric guitars and a backpack filled with McGinnis' college textbooks.

But the worst discovery was when McGinnis walked into the baby's room. Ten large boxes of diapers and a closet full of baby clothes were all gone.

"This is what really hurts me -- stealing stuff from my baby ... really bad, because she's my world," added Megan, while fighting away the tears.

On Wednesday afternoon, the tears softened slightly when she and her grandmother visited the office of "Birthright," a local non-profit that supports the needs of expectant mothers.

McGinnis was given an emergency supply of diapers, baby jumpers and blankets. The basket full of goods is just enough to help the family get by.

"It's nice that we can help out," said Mary Ann Gruba with Birthright.

St. Paul Police are investigating the burglary, but at this point they have little information or leads to pursue.

But for McGinnis and baby Bria, it's the theft of hand-knit clothes and a digital camera containing hospital photos that hurts the most.

"Just clothes my grandma made me for the baby. She knits and now I don't have those," she said.

Anyone with information about the burglary is asked to contact the St. Paul Police Department.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.