San Francisco

San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee Donates iPads to Make-A-Wish Foundation After Theft of Hunter Pence's Scooter

While police search for two men, who they believe ransacked a Make-A-Wish Foundation office in San Francisco and stole a motorized scooter that once belonged to Giants outfielder Hunter Pence as well laptops and iPads, the city’s mayor is coming to the aid of the nonprofit that works with children struggling with life-threatening illnesses.

Ed Lee announced that he plans to donate eight iPads to the organization Tuesday morning, and auction of a trip to City Hall and a visit with himself to help the foundation recover from a blow it suffered this past weekend

A pair of thieves Saturday struck the organization's SoMa office on Hawthorne Street and made off with Pence's once-stolen-and-returned motor scooter. They also swiped other valuables items, which staff members are in the process of itemizing, according to Patricia Wilson, the group's executive director.

Pence's black moped features his number eight in two places, a San Francisco Giants sticker and an autograph that reads, "To Michelle, Much Love!" with a smiling face. 

Make-A-Wish acquired the Major League Baseball player's unique vehicle of choice for an auction, Wilson said. A donor paid $40,000 for Pence's scooter, which was honored with a bobblehead doll, and on which he traveled to and from AT&T Park.

The winning bidder had yet to pick up the scooter, Wilson said.

Pence himself was incredulous, tweeting Sunday: "I can't believe it! It's scooter-gate all over again. #findhuntersscooterx2"

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Make-A-Wish Foundation
Make-A-Wish Foundation's San Francisco office was ransacked on Saturday, April 2, 2016.

Photographs show that the robbers destroyed a door's handle to access the office, which they ravaged. Drawers and cabinets — that looked like they had been rifled through — were left open, and bags, baskets and other items were strewn across the floor.

The robbery stunned Make-A-Wish Foundation's employees. 

"It's just such disappointment that somebody would do this," Tamara Burnett said "My heart just kind of sank. I didn't believe it. It absolutely breaks your heart." 

She continued: "Most of all I just want justice. Last year, we granted 370 wishes. We hope to grant 400 this year. We hope this won’t stop us."

Surveillance footage shows two people, one with seemingly light skin and the other, dark, walking up the stairs and pausing briefly. The first one, who is wearing glasses, a blue T-shirt, and dark-colored pants, shoes and a hooded sweatshirt, peered through and jimmied a door before turning around to address the second suspect, who in the meantime sat down on the stairs and buried his head in his hand. 

The second suspect was clad in white shoes, a cap, a blueish-gray shirt, and dark-colored pants and a jacket. Both were carrying backpacks.

Cameras also captured the duo heading back down the stairs. The first suspect slung a bag onto the scooter, while the second carried two bags in his hands. 

So far, the San Francisco Police Department has no leads, and employees can't shake the feeling of being attacked. 

"Clearly our mission is all over the walls," Burnett said. "They knew where they were coming. How do you open up this drawer, see Batkid hats, Batkid t-shirts and then still continue to take things?" 

People with information about the burglary are asked to call the San Francisco Police Department at (415) 553-0123.

NBC Bay Area's Chuck Coppola contributed to this report. 

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