Merced Sheriffs Press release
On July 19, 2019, the Merced County Sheriff’s Office took a report of a burglary at the Winton Community Park Concession Stand and at the Parks and Recreation’s shed.
Winton Park is the home to the Winton League of the Junior Giants, which is a volunteer program, endorsed by Major League Baseball (MLB) and the San Francisco Giants through the Giants Community Fund.
The Junior Giants is a free non-competitive, coed baseball program for youth ages 5-18.
Throughout the program, the players learn the basics of baseball while also learning the Four Bases of Character Development: Confidence, Integrity, Leadership, and Teamwork as well as the importance of Health, Education, and Bullying Prevention.
League Commissioners reported several items stolen including baseball caps, baseballs, baseball gloves, and snacks.
The Gloves are given to less fortunate children that may otherwise be unable to participate in the Junior Giants and the snacks that were stolen are used to pay for the players to attend a San Francisco Giants Baseball Game in San Francisco.
Officials from the league valued the stolen items at approximately $2500.00.
In addition to the baseball equipment being stolen several pieces of yard equipment was stolen which is used to maintain the park and the baseball fields.
On July 25, 2019, the Merced County Sheriff’s Office STAR Team developed information on the whereabouts of the stolen property.
The STAR Team conducted a probation search at the home of a suspected gang member in the 7400 block of Periot Avenue in Winton.
Upon a search of a shed in the backyard of the residence, Deputies located several of the stolen items including baseball hats, baseball gloves, miscellaneous food items from the concession stand, a gas-powered weed-eater, and two gas-powered blowers.
In addition to the items located from the Winton Park burglary, deputies located several items stolen from a Burglary in Santa Clara County.
Merced County Sheriff’s Office Detectives were called to the residence to assist in recovering the stolen property and are working on returning the items to the Winton Junior Giants.
The Merced County Sheriff’ Office is asking for anyone with information about this crime to contact Detective Bonilla at (209)385-7472.
Great job Merced county Sheriffs office.
To steal from an organization like this one you have to be as worthless as you can get.
People who steal don’t want to work for things then when they are caught they should have them working for the city or county 12 hours a day 6 days a week. There is plenty to do out there and if not then, make little rocks out of big rocks.