Meals on Wheels volunteer in Pueblo has car stolen while making a delivery

PUEBLO, Colo. (KRDO) -- A Meals on Wheels volunteer in Pueblo lost his wheels when his car was stolen Monday while delivering food to an elderly woman.

According to Pueblo Police, it was around 11:45 a.m. Monday morning when an unidentified male ran out of the front door of a Loaf 'N Jug convenience store on W 17th Street on Pueblo’s northwest side.

Employees at the Loaf N' Jug tell KRDO they caught the man trying to steal items from the store, and they ran after him.

The unidentified man ran north down Francisco Street, and that’s where he found a Jeep Compass, unlocked and unattended.

“It was a shocker,” said Michael Chapman, the owner of the Jeep and a volunteer for Meals on Wheels in Pueblo for six months.

On Monday, Chapman parked near the intersection of W 18th Street and Francisco Street and was in the middle of delivering a meal to an elderly client when he heard yelling behind him.

“Before I could hand over the food, I turn around and see my Jeep Compass racing away,” said Chapman.

Chapman says the blue Jeep was unlocked and he left the keys inside, but he claims the vehicle was not running. However, the vehicle has a push-to-start feature. Several undelivered meals were still inside the vehicle when it was stolen, but that's not all. Chapman says a handgun for his own protection was inside as well.

“We’ve had volunteers get bit by a dog and stuff like that," said Steve Nawrocki, the Director Pueblo's Senior Resources Development (SRDA). "But never has anyone had their personal property impacted like having their car stolen.”

Along with SRDA, Steve Nawrocki oversees the Meals on Wheels operation in Pueblo. Right now, one of his largest concerns is the safety of seniors who rely on these meals.

“There is a list of at least ten people in the car and about half of the meals haven’t delivered yet, so somebody has access to some very vulnerable seniors within our population," said Nawrocki.

Pueblo Police say they haven't been able to identify the man who stole the blue Jeep Compass.

Meals on wheels urge folks not to open their doors for anyone they don’t recognize, especially if the person can’t identify as a Meals on Wheels volunteer.

In the past, Meals on Wheels hasn't had any sort of policy when it comes to volunteers locking their door while delivering food. Nawrocki says that policy is going to change. As well as new policies when it comes to volunteers possessing ID when they make a delivery.