She Fed, Clothed The Homeless & Ended Up Getting Robbed

ST. PAUL, Minn. (WCCO) -- Nicki Coombs is committed to helping the poor as she regularly makes sandwiches for those outside the Dorothy Day Center in St. Paul.

Coombs was downtown St. Paul on Wednesday, along with her 4-year-old son, and stopped to help a homeless man and woman. When she learned it was the woman's birthday, she decided to celebrate.

She took them out for tacos, and then to Sears to buy clothes.

When returning to her car, she realized the homeless couple had stolen her computer tablet and checkbook.

"I'm a designer of home furniture, I kind of need my tablet with my clients' pictures so I can have my inspiration so I can work and make money and give back more to this community because these people need help now," she said.

Despite the incident, Coombs said that she still will help the poor.

"It won't stop me from helping people," she said. "Now I know I learned a lesson, that's all that was. That was Satan showing that he wants to test my faith, and that's not a big deal he won't mess with my faith."

St. Paul Police Sgt. Paul Paulos has some advice for others wishing to help.

"Be very careful," he said. "Work with the providers in your community that you live in. Seek out your church groups and other people that really know what's going on. Work in a group setting, not as an individual because it does put you in danger or the possibility of harm's way."